The Houston Rockets have secured star forward Kevin Durant on a new two-year contract extension valued at $90 million, business partner Rich Kleiman told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Oct. 19. The agreement covers the 2026-27 season and carries a player option for 2027-28.
Durant, 37, will earn less than his current $54.7 million salary but remains among the NBA’s highest-paid players. According to Charania, both sides understood during trade talks with Phoenix that the former MVP would accept a discount to give Houston greater roster flexibility. A full two-year maximum—roughly $119 million—was available, yet league rules prevented any deal longer than two seasons because Durant will be over 38 when the contract begins.
Houston was on Durant’s preferred destination list when the Suns explored trades over the summer. After the clubs completed a deal, team officials and Durant’s camp began working toward an extension that would keep him with the Rockets deep into his 19th NBA campaign.
Durant has indicated he hopes to finish his career in Houston, where he has reunited with former Seattle teammate Jeff Green and several fellow University of Texas alumni now working inside the organization. He called the Rockets a place where he can “settle in” for his remaining years.
Despite an up-and-down stint in Phoenix, the 15-time All-Star continued to produce at an elite level last season, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 62 games while shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from three-point range. Houston believes his half-court scoring will address late-game issues that surfaced during last spring’s first-round loss to Golden State.
Prior to the extension, the Rockets projected to sit about $80 million below the league’s second tax apron for 2026-27. Durant’s new number keeps the club under that line, allowing flexibility to pursue free agents and, if desired, negotiate a rookie-scale extension with forward Tari Eason before next summer’s restricted free-agency period.
The deal pushes Durant’s career earnings—current and future—above $598 million, setting a new NBA record and surpassing the mark previously held by LeBron James.
Source: Hoops Rumors
