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 may 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 informed ESPN insider Shams Charnia, the team-friendly deal was crafted with a watch in the 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.
The Rockets, who’re coming off a reasonably deep playoff run, however had been affected by the dearth 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 power of Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield, and, now and again, Jimmy Butler, to hit well timed three level buckets.
The Durant commerce, formally probably the most sophisticated commerce in NBA historical past, involving seven groups, despatched Rockets gamers Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 draft decide Khaman Maluach and second-round picks Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea to the Phoenix Suns in change 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 the complete league.
Veteran Rockets followers probably keep in mind the late profession flame-outs of Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley, who by no means fairly had been capable of match their salaries and their play in a Rockets uniform whereas enjoying alongside a nonetheless efficient, however growing old Hakeem Olajuwon; nonetheless, by all accounts, the Durant commerce appears to be a special deal, however the ghosts of the previous are laborious 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 by way of free company, and re-signed final yr’s key veterans Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Vacation, and Jeff Inexperienced.
In line with oddsmakers, Durant’s presence on the workforce has elevated the Rockets from a fringe menace to potential NBA championship contenders. The workforce at the moment has the fifth-best odds to raise 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 decide, Zach Risacher, the Rockets open the season towards the workforce that drafted Durant, the defending champions, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
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