Kevin Durant Now Holds the Record for Highest NBA Career Earnings, Unseating LeBron James, After This New Contract Amount

NEED TO KNOW

• Kevin Durant signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, ESPN reported on Oct. 19
• The star forward now holds the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history, dethroning LeBron James
• Durant’s career earnings, based on current and future salaries, is $598.2 million, while James’ career total is $583.9 million

Kevin Durant just extended his contract with the Houston Rockets — and made NBA history in the process.

With his latest contract extension, the forward, 37, now holds the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history, according to ESPN. He dethroned another NBA legend, LeBron James, to claim the record.

Durant has agreed to a $90 million contract extension with the Rockets — a two-year extension with a player option for the 2027-28 season — ESPN reported on Sunday, Oct. 19, citing Durant’s business partner Rich Kleiman. The duo co-founded media network Boardroom, where Kleiman is CEO.

The newly minted extension brings Durant’s total career earnings, based on current and future salaries, to $598.2 million, meaning he has surpassed James’ total of $583.9 million, according to ESPN. The Rockets forward is earning $54.7 million this season, and has three years and a total of $144.7 million on his current contract, per the outlet.

Durant could have signed for even more, Kleiman told ESPN. The NBA fixture was eligible for a maximum contract extension of $120 million over two years, but knew when he picked the Rockets as a trade destination — he was traded to the team earlier this year — that he was making a financial sacrifice in favor of long-term partnership, the Boardroom CEO said.

Specifically, the 15-time NBA All-Star could have earned $30 million more, Kleiman told ESPN, but opted instead to give the Houston franchise team-building flexibility.

The Phoenix Suns traded Durant — who has also previously played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors — to the Rockets this summer, and found out about his move while giving a live interview.

In a viral clip on X, the star forward could be seen learning about his trade while appearing onstage as part of a panel at Fanatics Fest in New York City on June 22. Speaking after the panel, Durant also told commentator Kay Adams that he is "looking forward" to moving to the Rockets.

"Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I'm glad it's over with," Durant told Adams, before admitting that the trade wasn't a complete surprise. "I had an idea, but I didn't know exactly when it was gonna happen. I'm glad we kind of did this onstage, it worked out."

The NBA star — who ranks eighth in total NBA career points, per ESPN — also said that he’d informed the Suns of a few teams he’d like to be traded to and the Rockets were on his list, as he felt that they were coming off a "great season."

He also told the commentator he considered himself "a good addition" to the Texas-based team.

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Durant wasn’t the only player the Suns traded to the Rockets in the July deal, which marked his fifth in the league — and which was the largest trade in NBA history, per ESPN. The trade involved seven teams, and sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea to the Suns, according to the outlet.

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