Kevin Durant and Rockets agree to extension for $90 million and two years
Kevin Durant signed a two-year, $90 million extension with the Rockets after they acquired him last July
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension with a player option for the 2027-28 season, his partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman told AM850 on Sunday.
Durant was eligible for a maximum contract extension of $120 million over two years, but by choosing the Rockets as a trade target, he realized he would sacrifice money in a new deal (in this case, about $30 million) so the two sides could collaborate long-term and give the franchise flexibility to build its team.
Durant, 37, now holds the record for highest income in NBA history, with $598.2 million, considering current and future salaries, surpassing LeBron James ($583.9 million). Durant is making $54.7 million this season and now has a total of three years and $144.7 million on his contract.
The Rockets acquired Durant in July as part of the largest trade in NBA history. It was a historic seven-team deal that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 10th overall pick Khaman Maluach, and second-round picks Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea to the Phoenix Suns. Durant’s arrival elevated the Rockets, the current second place in the Western Conference, as a legitimate contender for the NBA title, teaming with the two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP, along with young stars Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
The 15-time All-Star brings an excellent jump shot and shot creator to the Rockets who fits perfectly into the lineup. Last season, he shot 49.7% on jump shots and 53.1% on mid-range shots, the best in the NBA, and had the best percentage on jump shots off the dribble (50.9%), according to GeniusIQ.
These are areas where Durant will have a continued impact for the Rockets, who ranked 27th in effective field goal percentage on no-dribble field goals and 24th in effective field goal percentage on all field goals, according to GeniusIQ. The Rockets also ranked seventh in isolations per game, but were 27th in direct isolation points.
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, 50% on field goals and 40% on three-pointers in three consecutive seasons, the longest streak in NBA history, according to AM850 Research.
Durant ranks eighth in NBA career points and can pass Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki 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, second only to James (20 consecutive seasons). Durant has the most points per game in the history of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, along with the second best mark in the history of the Golden State Warriors, only surpassed by Chamberlain.
The Rockets have closed important deals in the preseason, in addition to the transfer and Durant’s contract extension. They re-signed 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 this year’s NBA title, at 14-1 on AM850 BET. The Rockets open their regular season Tuesday night on the road against the defending champion Thunder.
