Suns' Mat Ishbia Expects Kevin Durant to Sign Contract Extension After 2024-25 Season
Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant is under contract through the 2025-26 season, but team governor Mat Ishbia expects him to sign an extension after the current season.
"We have a great relationship with Kevin," he told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday. "He's a great guy, he loves being in Phoenix, we love having him. He's off to an amazing start this season, one of the MVP leaders, and we're off to a very good start. We expect Kevin to sign an extension, be with us for the long term. We hope he finishes his career here in Phoenix. ... We figured after the season we'll talk about it, take care of it. But Kevin wants to be here, we want Kevin here. There's never been one grumbling of anything different."
Durant could have signed a one-year extension ahead of the 2024-25 campaign for $59.7 million, due to the Over-38 rule, that would have kept him with the team through the 2026-27 season. In the summer, however, he'll be eligible to sign a two-year, $120 million extension that would take him through the 2027-28 campaign.
Were he to sign that contract and see it on in Phoenix, it would take him to seven seasons with the franchise. Durant hasn't spent more than parts of four seasons with any franchise since departing the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016.
Obviously, how the Suns fare this season could play a part in his decision to stick with Phoenix for the remainder of his career. Thus far, the team hasn't reached the lofty heights promised when acquiring him, with championships the expectation.
And last year's trio of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal never quite jelled or managed to stay healthy simultaneously for long junctures, leading to a 49-33 regular season and a disappointing first-round sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference playoffs.
The team has been solid to start the 2024-25 campaign, however, posting a 9-6 record. Even at 36, Durant has shown little signs of slowing down, averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
At some point, Father Time might catch up to him, and that potential extension could sit heavy on Phoenix's books. For now, however, Durant remains one of the league's top players, and keeping him paired with Booker for as long as he continues to produce makes sense for the Suns.
