Houston forward Kevin Durant is facing a massive decision in 2025-26.
Rockets superstar Kevin Durant faces huge decision this year originally appeared on The Sporting News
15-time All-Star Houston Rockets power Kevin Durant is facing huge decision during his inaugural season with the franchise.
The 6-foot-11 Texas product, who was acquired by Houston from the Phoenix Suns as part of a seven-team blockbuster during June's NBA Finals, remains one of the league's most elite scorers.
Durant would also instantly become next summer's most-coveted free agent, even in his relative dotage, if he made it through the 2025-26 season without inking a contract extension with the Rockets.
Given the revamped club's prospects this year and insane depth, it feels like an extension would be an ideal resolution for both sides. But Durant's wallet certainly wouldn't be hurting for long if he had to seek out a new squad during the 2026 offseason.
Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation ranks the two-time Finals MVP as the top potential free agent among next year's class, a group that also includes 21-time All-NBA Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, four-time All-Star Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (who has a player option), Lakers guard Austin Reaves (player option), 2018 MVP L.A. Clippers guard James Harden (player option), and two-time All-Star Sacramento Kings shooting guard Zach LaVine.
"Kevin Durant may turn 37 years old ahead of the 2026-27 season, but the two-time champion has shown few signs of losing a step," Schuster writes. "He remains one of the NBA’s most efficient and reliable offensive hubs, and he is the exact type of player who turns your typical playoff team into a bona fide championship contender."
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Last year on the 36-46 Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points on .527/.430/.839 shooting splits, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals a night. As he gears up for his 18th healthy NBA season, there's no indication that he'll slip much — but on a loaded Houston team filled with intriguing young prospects, he may not have to carry quite so big an offensive burden as he did in 2024-25.
"Nevertheless, the odds of him remaining on the market are extremely thin. All signs point toward the Houston Rockets offering a max extension after aggressively trading for him this offseason," Schuster adds. "Still, in the off chance that he does walk free into the market, it’s hard to imagine a more coveted player."
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Category: Basketball
