Kevin Durant is staying in Houston. The 15-time All-Star forward and the Houston Rockets have agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension, according to ESPN.
The deal keeps Durant under contract through the 2027–28 season, when he will be 39 years old, and includes a player option for the final year.
The extension falls roughly $30 million short of the maximum two-year, $120 million contract Durant was eligible to sign. That decision gives the Rockets some salary-cap flexibility as they look to maintain their core around the former MVP and continue their climb toward contention.
Durant, who was entering the final year of his existing deal, had already hinted that an agreement was coming when he said during media day on Sept. 29, “I do see myself signing an extension (with Houston).”
Kevin Durant is a Natural Fit for the Houston Rockets
Durant credited head coach Ime Udoka and the team’s quick turnaround as key factors in his commitment.
“Just seeing the quick progression of this franchise, from where it was right after that Chris Paul–James Harden era to seeing when Ime got here and how he turned it around so fast,” Durant said. “It just felt organic and natural coming into the gym and being a Houston Rocket for the first time.”
The Rockets acquired Durant in July as part of a seven-team deal that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — used to select center Khaman Maluach — to the Phoenix Suns.
Despite Phoenix’s struggles last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 52.7% from the field and 43% from three-point range. He enters his 18th NBA season needing 849 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain for seventh on the league’s all-time scoring list.
Highest career earnings (Millions)
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) October 19, 2025
Durant: $598.2
LeBron: $583.9
Steph: $470.1
Harden: $411.4
PG: $406.2
CP3: $404.5
Former players’ career earnings (Millions):
Bird: $25.8
Magic: $39
Barkley: $43.6
MJ: $94
Shaq: $286.3
Kobe: $323.3
(via Spotrac | Basketball Reference) https://t.co/qMprW8Fubp pic.twitter.com/9q400UxFK6
Veteran Leadership and Late-Game Poise
Udoka said Durant’s consistency and experience will be vital to a young roster seeking playoff success.
“The consistent scoring — at times we had our lulls last year,” Udoka said. “He’s a very efficient scorer and one of the ultimate closers in the game. Those two aspects alone improve our consistency across the board.”
Houston went 52–30 last season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before losing in the first round to the Golden State Warriors. The franchise hopes Durant’s arrival — alongside core players Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard — positions it to contend in a deep Western Conference.
Durant will likely assume a heavier workload early in the season after starting point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL.
“I can play with a point guard or without a point guard,” Durant said. “It might not necessarily be a guy in a point guard’s body, but somebody who can make smart plays out top with the ball and control the game. I think we’ll all have to figure it out and do it by committee.”
