Kevin Durant agrees to a 2-year, $90 million extension with the Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant made history in July, when he was the crown jewel of an NBA-record seven-team contract that took him from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets.
Now the 2013-14 NBA MVP has agreed to a two-year, $90 million extension with the Rockets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, turning a potential one-year stay into an opportunity to ride into the sunset. The deal also includes a player option for the 2027-28 NBA season. The Rockets announced the extension Sunday but provided no details on the deal.
Announcement
Durant will turn 37 in September. He played 17 seasons in the league, made 15 All-Star teams and earned NBA Finals MVP on both Golden State teams with which he won championships.
Durant had an expiring contract worth $54.7 million through the 2025-26 season. He was eligible to sign a two-year deal worth $122 million when he was traded. If he had waited until six months after that deal, he could have made another two million. In the end, it didn’t matter.
At this point, these kinds of contractual minutiae are secondary to Durant. He hopes to win a championship with the Rockets, who broke out under coach Ime Udoka last season. Houston won 50-plus games for the first time in six seasons and secured the No. 2 seed in a strong Western Conference. Even though the Rockets bowed out to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, the present and future are bright in Houston.
Announcement
Udoka has signed a long-term extension that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, Charania reported on June 19.
The Rockets aged out, essentially replacing 23-year-old Jalen Green with Durant, but Father Time hasn’t robbed KD of his consistency. The versatile 6-foot-11 forward has averaged at least 25 points, a 50% shooting and 40% 3-point clip in each of the last three seasons — it’s the longest hitting streak in NBA history, according to ESPN Research, and Durant has had it together for 34-36 years.
While Houston also gave up a tough but sometimes reckless 3-ed wing in Dillon Brooks, they signed another productive, two-way veteran player in Dorian Finney-Smith.
Announcement
Additionally, the Rockets strengthened the center position behind All-Star Alperen Şengün with the addition of Clint Capela. It’s a reunion in Houston for Capela, who spent the first six years of his NBA career with the Rockets.
Houston’s newcomers will join not only Şengün, but also emerging guard Amen Thompson – an NBA first team defensive end – and Jabari Smith Jr., among others.
As for Durant, he’s preparing to play for his fifth franchise. Before joining the Rockets, he played for the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-16), Warriors (2016-19), Brooklyn Nets (2019-23) and Suns (2023-25).
Announcement
Last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 62 games. Although the Suns had the highest payroll in league history, they finished just 36-46 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.
Durant could put Phoenix’s disappointments in the rearview mirror with a memorable final chapter in Houston. The Rockets helped him get that opportunity with Sunday’s extension.