Kevin Durant Drops Surprising Hint About His Future in Houston—Could a Major Extension Be Imminent?

Right from the moment Kevin Durant got shipped off—throwing a giant shadow over Game 7 of the NBA Finals before a single whistle blew—it was pretty obvious a massive two-year, nine-figure extension was on the horizon in Houston. The only real debate? When it’d actually go down, not whether. Fast-forward to training camp’s opening day: that signature still hasn’t hit the paper, but honestly, does anyone really mind? Durant himself gave us a peek at Rockets media day, saying he’s definitely on board—just not ready to mark the calendar yet. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst chimed in too, echoing a strong sense of optimism from Durant’s camp, though the classic “ain’t a deal till it’s a deal” wisdom still holds. With the cap rules and the over-38 wrinkle limiting contract length, plus Houston juggling talks with promising Tari Eason, things might feel tangled—but trust me, this extension is coming. Why? Because Durant isn’t just any player; at 37, he’s basically a one-man half-court offense machine—Houston’s missing puzzle piece for breaking through their playoff ceiling. It’s a matter of time before both sides find that sweet spot and lock it down. LEARN MORE

From the day Kevin Durant was traded — casting a shadow over Game 7 of the NBA Finals before it even tipped off — it was expected that he would sign a two-year, nine-figure contract extension in Houston. It was a question of when, not if.

Houston has opened training camp, and the when has yet to happen. Not that it is concerning anyone.

“I do see myself signing a contract extension. I can’t tell you exactly when it’ll happen, but I do see it happening,” Durant said at Rockets media day.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst echoed that, speaking on the Hoop Collective Podcast.

“I’ve talked to the Durant camp, and even beyond what Kevin said [at media day], there’s very good optimism that they’re going to have a deal. But, ain’t a deal till it’s a deal.”

Durant can sign a max extension of two years, up to $122 million. The two-year part is non-negotiable. Durant wants it, and the Rockets can’t give him more than two years due to the over-38 rule in the CBA (a rule that limits the length of contracts for older players, something owners have had in place for a few CBAs now to protect themselves from themselves).

As always, it’s about the money. It was always expected that Durant would take less than the max to get to a place he could contend for a title — but not that much less. The expectation prior to the trade was that Durant still wanted two years and north of $100 million, something closer in average to the $54.7 million he is making this season. The sides are undoubtedly hashing it out, and the fact that the Rockets are also discussing an extension with Tari Eason (and any extension he signs would take effect next season) complicates the long-term financial picture.

That said, a deal will get done.

In the end, the Rockets need Durant. He is a perfect fix for their half-court offensive woes, the issue that led to them getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs as the No. 2 seed last April. Durant averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game last season while shooting 43% from three-point range. At age 37, Durant is still a walking half-court offense in and of himself.

The sides will come to a deal. Eventually. And neither side seems particularly stressed about it at this point.