Kevin Durant just locked up a massive contract extension with the Houston Rockets, cementing his place as the highest-earning player in NBA history. The veteran superstar’s latest deal marks another significant milestone in what’s already been an extraordinary career.
Breaking Down Durant’s Houston Contract
The 15-time NBA All-Star inked a two-year extension worth $90 million, with a player option built in for the 2027-28 season. Rich Kleiman, Durant’s business partner, confirmed the deal following KD’s mid-2025 offseason move from Phoenix.
Though the $90 million extension doesn’t quite reach the maximum $120 million available over two years, it gives Durant financial security and ensures he won’t be playing on an expiring deal during his inaugural Houston campaign.
Historic Earnings Achievement
Durant’s pulling in $54.7 million this season alone, which bumps his career earnings up to $598.2 million – a new league record. That impressive figure edges out LeBron James, whose total career earnings (factoring in future deals) reached $583.9 million.
The Seven-Team Trade That Changed Everything
Durant landed in Houston through an absolutely wild seven-team trade back in July 2025. The Suns received quite the haul in return: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick Khaman Maluach, plus a couple of second-rounders.
His final Phoenix campaign saw Durant average a respectable 26.6 points per game while shooting 43.0 percent from beyond the arc across 62 games. Unfortunately, the Suns struggled to a disappointing 36-46 record and missed the postseason entirely.
Houston, on the other hand, put together an impressive 52-win season that earned them the No. 2 seed out West. Their playoff run came to an abrupt end, though, falling to Golden State in a grueling seven-game opening round matchup.
What Durant Brings to Houston’s Championship Hopes
Adding Durant should give the Rockets a serious boost in perimeter scoring, perfectly complementing All-Star center Alperen Sengun. As someone who’s captured two NBA titles with Golden State, Durant provides that championship pedigree Houston’s young core desperately needs.
Chasing Scoring History While Staying Healthy
Durant currently sits 8th on the league’s all-time scoring charts and looks poised to climb past both Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki this season – assuming his body holds up. He’s also got the second-longest active streak of seasons averaging 25-plus points, trailing only LeBron’s remarkable 20-season run that concluded in 2025.
The Brooklyn-to-Phoenix Pipeline
Brooklyn shipped Durant to the Suns during the 2023 trade deadline, receiving Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and several first-round picks in exchange. That move represented yet another chapter in Durant’s well-documented journey around the league.
