Kevin Durant plans to end career with Houston Rockets as extension talks loom ahead of 2025–26 season

What if Kevin Durant’s last chapter in the NBA is in Houston? According to Shams Charania from ESPN, that’s what’s going down. On The Pat McAfee Show this week, Charania confirmed that both Durant and the Houston Rockets are anticipating an extension—and even hinted that Durant might "give a little bit of money back.

" At 37 in September and entering the final year of a one-year, $54.7 million deal, Durant and Houston could be planning a career-ending alliance that alters the NBA landscape.

Kevin Durant willing to take less than maximum salary to keep Houston Rockets below luxury tax line

Last week's major trade saw the Phoenix Suns move Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, getting back guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks in return. Durant, who had an impressive season averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists with a 43% three-point shooting percentage, is now joining a Rockets squad led by coach Ime Udoka, who finished second in the Western Conference but was eliminated in the first round.

Meanwhile, the key players for Denver—Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Amen Thompson—are expected to get significant pay raises beginning in the 2025–26 season. Bringing Durant into the fold could risk pushing Houston's salary cap into luxury tax territory, but Charania noted that Durant might consider signing for less than the maximum to preserve Houston's financial flexibility. This readiness could play a vital role in the Rockets' quest for a championship while also supporting their young talent.

Charania mentioned that the negotiations regarding Durant's contract, along with his business manager Rich Kleiman and GM Rafael Stone, are more than just ideas—they're on the calendar. Expected to start in July or August, the discussions will center on a two-year extension that could be worth between $121 and $122 million, potentially allowing Durant to remain in Houston until he reaches 39 years old. Durant's previous actions—like taking a pay cut with the Warriors in 2017 to help maintain their championship roster—provide a basis for this kind of adaptability.Also Read: LeBron James’ RM 65-01 “King James” looks wild on the surface, but wait till you see what it can doThis partnership—Durant’s seasoned insight and the Rockets’ rising young stars under Udoka—indicates a transition from Houston’s recent long-term rebuilding approach to a true win-now game plan. ESPN analysts have already raised their title odds, ranking Houston fourth in the NBA championship probability post-trade.