Kevin Durant Envisions Retiring with Rockets, 'And I Hate Saying This'
Kevin Durant has once more expressed interest in retiring with the Houston Rockets.
Durant recently told ESPN's Michael C. Wright that he can "see myself retiring here and being a Rocket until it's over with."
"And I hate saying this. I don't know what's going to happen on down the line," Durant told Wright. "But as of today, yeah, that's how I feel. I just feel like I'm at a good point in my career where I know what I do is effective on the court.
TOP NEWS
Udoka Puts Rockets on Blast 😬
Lakers 1 Win Away from Sweeping Rockets
Castle, Harper Lead Spurs to Win Without Wemby
"Why not try to keep getting better at it, keep maintaining and keep focusing on new things to get better?"
Wright's report was published two days after Durant signed a two-year, $90 million extension to stay in Houston through at least the 2026-27 season. He also holds a player option for 2027-28.
Durant, who turned 37 in September ahead of the final year of his previous contract, was traded to the Rockets from the Phoenix Suns in July.
The 15-time All-Star told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix before his extension was announced that he had at one point wanted to retire in Phoenix, but began looking at other possible teams as the Suns struggled to a 36-46 finish to the 2024-25 campaign.
"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."
Durant recently said that he hopes to play until his 40s. He is almost four years younger than Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who will miss the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica but is expected to appear in his 23rd NBA season once he recovers.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Durant left approximately $30 million on the table by signing an extension below his two-year, $120 million maximum. Whether the Rockets are able to use that cap space to construct a contender around Durant could ultimately determine if he still wants to stick around in Houston by the time his player option comes up in 2027.
