Rockets' Kevin Durant Discusses When He'll Know It's Time to Announce NBA Retirement

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant says he'll know it's time to retire from the NBA when he no longer has "fun" preparing for his next season.

Durant, who recently signed a two-year extension that will keep him in Houston through at least his age-38 campaign in 2026-27, spoke on Tuesday's episode of the Pivot Podcast about his eventual retirement.

"I don't even know how that feels. I mean, I guess I'll, I guess I'll just feel that," Durant said about potentially wanting to retire. "I don't know, 'cause at this point, I... I got the energy to get up and practice and work on my game. I enjoy that part of my life right now. Like, that's what... that's what's keeping me going, is that that extra work, not the game, but, you know, working on my craft, that's the fun part of it, and I guess I guess when that's not fun no more. You know?

"'Cause that's my... like, I said, I could do that anywhere, anytime, and I can feel comfortable living in that routine, you know? I end up going to the gym, coming home, like, telling my days around. I enjoy that. When that's not fun no more, it's part of when I step away."

Durant was traded by the Phoenix Suns in June. His new contract adds one more guaranteed year to his previous deal, in addition to a player option for his age-39 season in 2027-28.

The 15-time All-Star has said this offseason both that he wants to retire with the Rockets and that he wants to play into his 40s.

LeBron James, 40, has set the current standard for NBA longevity. The Los Angeles Lakers star is set to play in his record 23rd season once he returns from the sciatica that has sidelined him for the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign.

Whether Durant, who turned 37 in September, will follow in James' footsteps by playing for more than two decades could depend on how he feels about the game following his first season with the Rockets.

Durant is so far averaging 26.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists through his first three games with Houston. His addition to the Rockets' offense has helped the team rank sixth in the NBA with 124 points per game despite a 1-2 start to the season.

He and the Rockets will look to get back in the win column when the team returns to action Wednesday night with a road game against the Toronto Raptors.