Kevin Durant, the star forward for the Houston Rockets, has officially signed a two-year contract extension worth $90 million. This deal, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, was confirmed by his business partner Rich Kleiman on Sunday.
Contract Details and Financial Impact
Durant initially qualified for a maximum extension of $120 million over two years but opted for a lesser amount to facilitate long-term collaboration with the Rockets. By choosing this path, Durant sacrificed around $30 million, prioritizing team-building flexibility.
Historic Earnings
At 37 years old, Durant has set the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history at $598.2 million, surpassing LeBron James, who has earned $583.9 million. Currently, Durant’s contract includes $54.7 million for the upcoming season, totaling $144.7 million over three years.
Trade Details
The Rockets secured Durant in July as part of the largest trade in NBA history. The seven-team deal brought Durant to Houston and sent multiple players, including Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, to the Phoenix Suns. This move positions the Rockets, last season’s No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, as a strong contender for the NBA title.
Durant’s Impact on the Rockets
- Durant is a 15-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, and two-time Finals MVP.
- He recorded an impressive 49.7% shooting rate on jumpers last season.
- Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his previous season with the Suns.
His prowess as a jump shooter and shot creator complements the Rockets’ needs, especially given their struggles in effective field goal percentage last season. In areas like off-the-dribble jumpers, the Rockets ranked 27th, highlighting the significance of Durant’s addition.
Future Outlook
Durant is on track to continue adding to his scoring totals. He ranks eighth in NBA career points and needs just 990 points this season to surpass Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki. He has maintained an impressive streak of averaging at least 25 points per game for 16 consecutive seasons.
Rockets’ Offseason Moves
In addition to acquiring Durant, the Rockets have made several key moves this offseason. They extended their agreements with head coach Ime Udoka and players like Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. They also made notable additions, including Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela.
Heading into the regular season, Houston has strong odds to win the NBA title, currently listed as fifth best at 14-1 by ESPN BET. The Rockets are set to begin their season with a challenging match against the defending champion Thunder.
