Kevin Durant, Rockets finalize two-year, $90 million extension
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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, business partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman told ESPN on Sunday.
Durant, 37, was eligible for a two-year maximum worth $120 million but accepted roughly $30 million less to give Houston greater roster flexibility over the long term.
The new deal lifts Durant’s projected career earnings to $598.2 million, overtaking LeBron James ($583.9 million) for the highest total in NBA history. Durant will make $54.7 million this season and now has three years and $144.7 million remaining on his contract.
Acquisition and roster impact
Houston landed Durant in July in a seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach and second-round selections Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea to the Phoenix Suns. The move paired the two-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP with rising standouts Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson on a club that finished last season as the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed.
A 15-time All-Star, Durant led the league last year by hitting 49.7% of his jump shots, 53.1% from mid-range and 50.9% on off-the-dribble attempts, according to GeniusIQ. The Rockets ranked 27th in effective field-goal percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers and 24th overall on jumpers, areas where the veteran scorer is expected to provide an immediate boost.
Individual milestones
In 62 games with Phoenix last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He has posted at least 25 points on 50% shooting from the field and 40% from three in each of the past three seasons, the longest streak in league history, per ESPN Research.
Durant enters the season eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He can surpass Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki with 990 more points and has recorded at least 25 points per game in 16 consecutive seasons, second only to James’ 20-season run.
Busy offseason in Houston
General manager Rafael Stone also secured new contracts for head coach Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams and Jabari Smith Jr.; signed free agents Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela and Josh Okogie; and re-signed veterans Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green.
ESPN BET lists Houston with the fifth-best odds to win the 2026 championship at 14-1. The Rockets open the regular season Tuesday night on the road against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Source: ESPN
