One of the most significant moves this season comes with Kevin Durant joining the Houston Rockets from the Phoenix Suns, seeking a franchise filled with youth and hungry for success. The Rockets, who pushed the limits in the NBA postseason before falling in seven games during the first round, believe Durant’s arrival can push them further.
Durant enters the final year of his current contract, worth roughly $54.7 million. At this stage, there is no extension in place, but his future with the Rockets appears to be moving toward a resolution.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Houston and Durant have engaged in talks regarding a new deal, and there is optimism that an agreement will be reached. Durant is no longer seen as the centerpiece of a team, but rather as an elite veteran complementing the young core the Rockets have built through the draft.
In this sense, Durant arrives in Houston not simply as a star, but as a veteran voice who can provide leadership and invaluable experience to a group eager to learn. For the Rockets, his presence is as much about teaching as it is about scoring.
The Rockets view Durant as the final piece of a contender, a player who can guide them while they secure long-term futures for talents like Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet, both of whom signed major deals this summer, along with Alperen Sengun, a 2025 All-Star who committed to a massive contract in 2024. The development of Amen Thompson and Tari Eason also looms large, as both are due for extensions over the next year.
Durant, however, may need to accept less than a maximum contract if he wants to remain in Houston. The veteran forward, who turns 37 in September, continues to rank among the league’s most potent scorers, but his role has shifted from NBA franchise centerpiece to mentor and finisher.
Last season with the Suns, Durant averaged 27.9 points per game while shooting an impressive 53 percent from the field, 42 percent from three, and 88 percent from the free-throw line. He added six rebounds and 4.2 assists while logging about 36 minutes per game, showing that even deep into his career, his production remains elite.