The Houston Rockets have doubled down on their championship ambitions by reportedly securing Kevin Durant on a two-year, $90 million contract extension.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the agreement, which carries a player option for the 2027-28 season, keeps the veteran superstar in Houston through at least his age-39 season and ensures the team’s rising core remains anchored by one of basketball’s greatest scorers.
Charania also revealed the deal propels Durant to the top of the NBA’s all-time earnings list.
“Kevin Durant now holds the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history at $598.2 million based on current and future salaries, surpassing LeBron James ($583.9 million). He has a total of three years and $144.7 million on his current contract,” he wrote on X.
A blockbuster summer in Houston
Durant’s extension caps off a stunning offseason for the Rockets, who pulled off one of the most complex transactions in league history earlier this year.
The 37-year-old joined Houston in a seven-team megatrade that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a collection of draft picks and role players to the Phoenix Suns. The move signaled a full-scale shift for a franchise that has gone from rebuilding to contending in just two seasons.
In his final year with Phoenix, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting an efficient 52.7 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from beyond the arc. Even after 17 seasons, his production remains elite, showing that age has done little to diminish his impact.
The Rockets are betting that the future Hall of Famer can help accelerate the development of a young roster led by Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, two emerging stars who helped Houston climb to second place in the Western Conference last season.
A record-breaking milestone for Durant
The extension pushes Durant into unprecedented financial territory. His new total of $598.2 million in career earnings surpasses LeBron James’ record, cementing his place as the highest-paid player in NBA history.
It’s a reflection of not only his longevity and consistency but also his value to every team he’s played for, from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and now Houston.
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