As expected, the Houston Rockets locked Kevin Durant into a two-year extension before the NBA regular season starts next week.
As expected, the Houston Rockets locked Kevin Durant into a two-year extension before the NBA regular season starts next week. But the deal is a bargain contract that puts the team in a fantastic position to round out the roster to chase championships the next few seasons.
Without a doubt, the biggest move this offseason was the Rockets making a blockbuster trade for future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. The deal wasn’t important just because they added an All-Star talent to the roster. No, the 15-time All-Star addresses something they severely lacked last season: A bona fide go-to, late-game scorer.
However, there was one major problem heading into a 2025-26 campaign with big expectations. Durant is only signed for one more season. While most expected him to come to terms on an extension, the question was how much the legend would demand in a new contract. Well, that was answered on Sunday, and he showed he is more interested in winning titles than maximizing his value in his final seasons in the NBA.
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that the Rockets and Durant had come to terms on a new two-year, $90 million contract extension. That number is a big win for Houston. Let’s explain why.
- Kevin Durant contract: Two years, $90 million extension
Houston Rockets can add more impact players after Kevin Durant extension
Houston Finances: 2026 offseason
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 19, 2025
Well positioned below the 2nd apron pic.twitter.com/6nTN01djru
In his new deal, Durant will average $45 per season starting in 2026-27. That is a huge pay cut from what he is making this season ($54.7 million) and $30 million less than what he could have received if he demanded the max amount he was eligible for. While he just turned 37 and is not the player he was at his prime, he remains one of the 10 best players in the NBA right now. So he could have requested similar pay to what he got in his most recent contract.
However, instead, the one-time NBA MVP wants to win as many titles as possible before he retires. Houston was already a top team last season. With his addition, they are serious NBA title contenders as long as he is around and healthy. But the roster is still a work in progress and needs a bit more rounding out. His new deal helps big time with that goal without receiving steep payroll taxes to do so.
- Kevin Durant stats: 26.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.2 BPG, 43% 3PT
After the announcement of the contract extension, ESPN capologist Bobby Marks mentioned the Rockets were set to be $80 million under the second tax apron ($207 million) heading into next year. The Durant deal means they are still $35 million under that number.
They are actually close to $10 million under the first apron ($195 million) after the extension. However, they are expected to ink former first-round pick Tari Easton to a new extension soon, and that will take them above the first apron.
In summation, they have the living legend locked in for two more years. On a stacked team that is getting better, and they will have space to add more impact players to go win it all in 2026-27 and 2027-28. They can also choose to go over the second apron if they believe it can bring them multiple titles in the next three seasons.
Related Headlines
Category: General Sports
