Kevin Durant Raises Temperature of Brewing Suns-Rockets Rivalry

The Phoenix Suns-Houston rockets having a budding rivalry wasn't something in the minds of many in the past. 

Well, now it's on the radar of everyone across the NBA world.

There were already over-arching tie-ins and storylines that were budding between the two franchises. 

Former Sun Kevin Durant opted to light the powder keg on fire on Saturday. The former member of the Suns was responding to a recent CNBC interview where franchise governor Mat Ishbia acknowledged he made mistakes early in his tenure as the steward of the franchise. 

These comments didn't seem to be directly targeting Durant, but the 16-time All-Star took the comments personally. He took a not-so-thinly veiled shot at Suns forward Dillon Brooks in the process as well.

Ishbia then responded with tact, wishing Durant well in his season ahead with the Houston Rockets. Durant ended the conversation by taking another jab at the franchise, pointing out that Ishbia is still paying Bradley Beal roughly $20 million per season to not play for the organization.

This very much sets the stage for a contentious battle between the two franchises in the season ahead.

The clearest manner to convey this is in the former player dynamics. Durant is clearly still bitter about his exit from Phoenix, and it seems no love is lost from the other side. 

Brooks and former lottery pick Jalen Green have extra incentive to prove the Rockets wrong in unloading them this season. Each has a reason to feel discarded by Houston, and they can make the most of it in the season ahead. 

The other layer of the brewing tension is the two franchises peddling for positioning in an ever-evolving Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are clearly the class of the conference at the moment, but the next tier is up for grabs. 

The Rockets are bridging an era between Durant/Fred VanVleet and a younger core that will carry them into the future - on paper at least. The Suns are in a more curious position in the same light, but the under-25 core is promising. 

There's much more hinging in this matchup than just this season, or a feud with Durant. This is simply a major battle to jockey for contending status for years to come, with the spat between Ishbia and Durant serving as a catalyst to put everything in motion.