The Houston Rockets’ celebrated player, Kevin Durant, has come to an agreement for a contract extension spanning two years and amounting to $90 million. This deal incorporates a player option for the season of 2027-28, as disclosed by his business associate and the CEO of Boardroom, Rich Kleiman, to ESPN this past Sunday.
Durant possessed the eligibility to secure a maximum contract extension valued at $120 million across the span of two years. Nonetheless, he was cognizant that in selecting the Rockets as his preferred destination for a trade, he would be forgoing a segment of earnings in the forthcoming agreement – approximating $30 million in this instance. This decision was made to foster a lasting alliance between the parties involved, thereby affording the franchise adaptability in its team composition strategies, according to Kleiman.
At the age of 37, Durant presently attains the distinction of holding the highest career earnings within the annals of the NBA, accumulating to $598.2 million when factoring in both current and anticipated remuneration. This positions him ahead of LeBron James, whose earnings total $583.9 million. Durant’s income for the ongoing season is $54.7 million, and his contract encompasses a remaining duration of three years, amounting to a total of $144.7 million.
The Rockets successfully obtained Durant during the month of July as a component of the NBA’s most extensive trade to date. This landmark arrangement, involving seven teams, resulted in Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 draft selection Khaman Maluach, alongside second-round picks Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea, being directed to the Phoenix Suns. The inclusion of Durant has significantly bolstered the Rockets, who are currently the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, solidifying their status as credible contenders for the NBA title. This unites the two-time champion and recipient of two Finals MVP awards with emerging talents such as Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Durant, a 15-time All-Star, furnishes the Rockets with an exceptional marksman and adept shot creator, seamlessly integrating into the team’s structure. He achieved an NBA-leading percentage of 49.7% on jump shots and 53.1% on shots taken from midrange last season. Additionally, he boasted the highest shooting accuracy on jump shots executed off the dribble (50.9%), as per data from GeniusIQ.
These facets represent domains in which Durant is poised to exert a consistent influence for the Rockets. The team previously held a 27th position in effective field goal percentage for jump shots created off the dribble and a 24th rank in effective field goal percentage for all jump shots, according to GeniusIQ. The Rockets also occupied the seventh position in isolation plays per game but ranked 27th in points derived from direct isolation scenarios.
In the preceding season, Durant recorded averages of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 62 games played with the Suns. The prospective Hall of Famer has consistently achieved a minimum of 25 points while maintaining a field goal percentage of 50% and a 3-point shooting percentage of 40% across three consecutive seasons, establishing a record as the longest such streak in NBA history, as reported by ESPN Research.
Durant is currently ranked eighth in NBA career points scored, and he is positioned to surpass both Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki on the all-time scoring list during the current season, contingent upon accumulating at least 990 points. He has sustained an average of at least 25 points per game throughout 16 successive seasons, a feat surpassed only by James, who achieved it in 20 consecutive seasons. Durant holds the distinction of having the highest career points per game in the histories of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, and Suns. He also claims the second-highest career points per game in the history of the Golden State Warriors, trailing only Chamberlain.
Aside from the trade and contract extension involving Durant, the Rockets have finalized notable offseason transactions. They successfully negotiated new agreements with coach Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Jabari Smith Jr. Furthermore, they secured the acquisitions of Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Josh Okogie as free agents and re-signed veteran players Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, and Jeff Green.
Houston is currently assigned the fifth-highest probability of securing the 2026 NBA title, with odds set at 14-1 by ESPN BET. The Rockets are scheduled to commence their regular season with an away game against the defending champion Thunder on Tuesday night.
