Kevin Durant signs a millionaire extension with the Rockets
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension, with a player option for the 2027-28 season, according to his business partner and Boardroom CEO, Rich Kleiman. Durant, eligible for a maximum extension of 120 million dollars in two years, chose to sacrifice money in the new agreement, around 30 million dollars, to ensure a long-term partnership with the Rockets. This will allow the team flexibility in team building. The 37-year-old player now holds the record for highest career earnings in NBA history, with $598.2 million, surpassing LeBron James ($583.9 million). Durant will earn $54.7 million this season, totaling three years and $144.7 million in his contract. The Rockets announced Durant’s extension on Sunday without revealing the terms. Houston acquired Durant in July as part of the biggest deal in NBA history, a historic seven-team trade involving Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the number 10 draft pick Khaman Maluach, and second-round picks Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea, who were sent to the Phoenix Suns. With Durant’s arrival, the Rockets are solidifying themselves as a legitimate NBA title contender, forming a team with the two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP, alongside young stars like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. Durant, a 15-time All-Star, will bring an elite shooter and playmaker to the Rockets who fits perfectly into the lineup. Last season, he led the NBA with 49.7% on jump shots and 53.1% on mid-range shots, in addition to having the best percentage on jump shots off the dribble (50.9%).These are areas where Durant will have a consistent impact for the Rockets, who ranked 27th in effective field goal percentage on pull-up jump shots and 24th in effective field goal percentage on all jump shots. The Rockets also ranked seventh in isolations per game, but 27th in points per isolation directly.
Last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games with the Suns. The future Hall of Famer has averaged at least 25 points with 50% field goal shooting and 40% from three-pointers for three consecutive seasons, the longest streak in NBA history. Durant ranks eighth in career points in the NBA and could surpass Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki on the historical list this season if he scores at least 990 points. He has averaged at least 25 points per game in 16 consecutive seasons, the most in league history, behind James (20 consecutive seasons). Durant has the highest points-per-game average in the history of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Suns, and the second-highest average in the history of the Golden State Warriors, behind Chamberlain. The Rockets have finalized significant moves outside of the Durant trade and extension. They reached new agreements with coach Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Jabari Smith Jr., acquired Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Josh Okogie in free agency, and re-signed veterans Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, and Jeff Green. Houston has the fifth-best odds to win the NBA title in 2026, at 14-1. The Rockets will begin their regular season on Tuesday night on the road against the defending champion, the Thunder.
