Kevin Durant Extends Rockets Deal, Takes $30M Pay Cut

Kevin Durant is making it clear that he won’t be in Houston for a short period of time. The Houston Rockets have extended the four-time scoring champion and Olympic gold medalist’s contract by two years, indicating his desire to stay with the team until the 2027-28 NBA season. ESPN reported the deal, which is valued at roughly $90 million, with a player option for the second year.

Durant’s 36-year-old decision was to pass up an extension worth up to $122 million, leaving more than $30 million on the table. Houston can now move salaries around more easily thanks to his decision to strengthen their roster around one of the game’s all-time greats.

“Generous guy,” Rockets forward Amen Thompson told reporters Sunday.

Durant’s willingness to accept less money shows his commitment to winning and aiding his new team in building a sustainable future. Durant’s career earnings could reach $600 million if he sticks to both years of his new contract, which could potentially set a new NBA record depending on how long LeBron James plays.

The extension was anticipated since Houston traded for Durant last summer. The Rockets are coming off a breakout 52-30 season — good for the No. 2nd seed in the Western Conference – under head coach Ime Udoka. A young core and competent leadership fueled the team’s resurgence, which convinced Durant that Houston could be his final stop.

“I think we all knew when we traded for him and when he came here it wasn’t a short-term thing,” Udoka said. “It’s good to get to a point where everybody’s happy, and hopefully he finishes his career here.”

Durant expressed the same sentiments during media day last month, praising the team’s turnaround since the post-Harden era.

“It just felt organic and natural coming into the gym and being a Houston Rocket for the first time,” he said.

Durant is currently the eighth-highest scorer in the NBA with 30,571 points, and is in the process of surpassing Wilt Chamberlain, Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Jordan this season. Last year, he was 17th in the league with 26.6 points and seven rebounds, making him the 15-time All-Star.

He went back to Texas, where he was a standout at the University of Texas before being drafted No. 2 overall in 2007, Durant now looks poised to finish his storied career where it all began — in the Lone Star State. Houston’s season starts on Tuesday with a game against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 p.m.) EST on the road. , NBC & Peacock).