Kevin Durant Says His 'Intent' Is To Retire with Rockets, 'Hopefully This Is It'

Kevin Durant, who once planned to retire with the Phoenix Suns, told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix he now hopes to finish out his career with the Houston Rockets.

"I'm looking to be here as long as I can, play my last years of my career," Durant told Mannix. "That's the intent. I know, I said that about Phoenix, too, but that's the intent. I would love to do that.

"I mean, I'm 37 years old and I'm going on 19 years in the league. I want to be solidified in a spot and build with a team with a group of guys that's going to be around for a while. So hopefully this is it."

The Suns traded Durant, 37, to Houston in a seven-team blockbuster deal in July. He is now entering his first season with the Rockets an expiring contract set to pay him $54.7 million.

Mannix noted there was "no bitterness" in Durant's tone when speaking about Suns, and that the former Phoenix star had already been looking around the NBA for other options after the 2024-25 season and "maybe a little before."

According to Mannix, Rockets fit the profile Durant was looking for as a contender that wouldn't lose too many key pieces by trading for him.

Durant also told Mannix he "wanted to go back to Texas," where he played one season for the Longhorns before he was drafted by Seattle in 2007.

The Rockets could currently extend Durant for as much as two years and $122 million, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Durant could add $2 million to that total by waiting until January to sign, per Marks, although ESPN's Shams Charania reported last week that the Rockets were in "constant communication" with his representation and had "optimism about a deal getting done before the start of the regular season."

NBA insider Jake Fischer meanwhile recently reported that the Rockets would prefer to extend pending restricted free agent Tari Eason before finalizing Durant's new deal. Houston have until next Monday to sign Eason, at which point the team could potentially turn its attention to extending Durant.

A two-year extension would keep Durant in Houston through his age-39 season in 2027-28, although that deal might not stretch until the end of the 15-time All-Star's NBA career. Durant said in September that he wanted to keep playing "as long as I can" and hopes to retire in his 40s.