Kevin Durant Indicators 2-Yr $90M Extension With Rockets

[ad_1] by Daniel Johnson October 19, 2025

Signing the extension, Durant made historical past, turning into the profession earnings chief.

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets not too long ago agreed to a two-year, $90 million extension, a determine that's roughly $30 million wanting the utmost he might have collected if he selected to go to a different workforce, however Durant isn’t precisely hurting for cash, as ESPN reported, the deal nonetheless strikes Durant into sole possession of the highest spot in profession earnings.

As Durant’s agent and Boardroom CEO Wealthy Kleiman instructed ESPN insider Shams Charnia, the team-friendly deal was crafted with an eye fixed in direction of ensuring the workforce has wage cap flexibility going ahead at the same time as Durant’s profession earnings of $598.2 million, a determine that encompasses each present and future earnings, surpassed one other basketball luminary, Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James, who has earned $$583.9 million over the course of his profession.

BREAKING: Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the franchise, his enterprise accomplice and Boardroom CEO Wealthy Kleiman tells ESPN. The brand new deal features a participant possibility in 2027-28. pic.twitter.com/5GdhzgnSPa

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2025

Kevin Durant now holds the document for the best profession earnings in NBA historical past at $598.2 million primarily based on present and future salaries, surpassing LeBron James ($583.9 million). He has a complete of three years and $144.7 million on his present contract. https://t.co/C3l6Zve60R

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2025

The Rockets, who're coming off a reasonably deep playoff run, however have been suffering from the shortage of a constant deep menace, typically rearing its head at inopportune instances, such because the sequence towards Golden State, once they had nobody to match the flexibility of Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield, and, occasionally, Jimmy Butler, to hit well timed three level buckets.

The Durant commerce, formally probably the most difficult commerce in NBA historical past, involving seven groups, despatched Rockets gamers Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 draft choose Khaman Maluach and second-round picks Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea to the Phoenix Suns in alternate for Durant, in impact, providing the Suns a rebuild powered by a big infusion of youth, whereas it paired Durant with a number of the most intriguing younger expertise in your entire league.

Veteran Rockets followers doubtless bear in mind the late profession flame-outs of Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley, who by no means fairly have been in a position to match their salaries and their play in a Rockets uniform whereas enjoying alongside a nonetheless efficient, however getting old Hakeem Olajuwon; nevertheless, by all accounts, the Durant commerce appears to be a distinct deal, however the ghosts of the previous are arduous to shake.

Along with the Durant deal, the Rockets have taken care of their core additions, together with head coach Ime Udoka, who has rebounded from his scandal with the Boston Celtics to reemerge as one of many league’s premier head coaches. The workforce has additionally reached new offers with Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Jabari Smith Jr., acquired Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Josh Okogie through free company, and re-signed final yr’s key veterans Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Vacation, and Jeff Inexperienced.

In accordance with oddsmakers, Durant’s presence on the workforce has elevated the Rockets from a fringe menace to potential NBA championship contenders. The workforce at present has the fifth-best odds to carry the Larry O’Brien trophy on the finish of the 2025-2026 postseason.

Following their spectacular 133-115 preseason win towards the Atlanta Hawks, which noticed Houston’s Reed Sheppard outplay the Hawks’ 2024 primary choose, Zach Risacher, the Rockets open the season towards the workforce that drafted Durant, the defending champions, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.