Kevin Durant Talks Retirement Plans

 Kevin Durant, once upon a time, wanted to retire a Brooklyn Net. Then he wanted to retire as a Phoenix Sun. Now KD says he wants to retire as a Houston Rocket. Will this one stick? 

In an exclusive interview with Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Durant laid out his career plans. 

I'm looking to be here as long as I can, play my last years of my career. 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.

Durant landed with the Rockets in what wound up being a huge seven-team trade earlier this summer. The Suns had attempted to deal him back at the deadline during the season, but Durant put the kibosh on a deal that would have sent him back to Golden State, where he won his only two championships with Steph Curry & the Warriors. 

Trade talks started again in earnest after the season, and Houston was one of Durant's top prefered landing spots.

KD is 37, and on an expiring contract. But he and the Rockets are in negotiations for a two-year extension, which would take him through the 2027-28 season. But that might not be his swan song in the Association, as he has recently said he'd like to play longer than that. 

“I always want to be at that elite level, but when you’re in your 40s, I mean you might as well just commit to playing till your wheels fall off,” says Durant. “You might as well just maximize that time period. I’m getting older but I just feel like I got a lot to look forward to. I feel like I’ve done a lot as well. I’m content, but I want more, as weird as that sounds.”

Durant is a 15-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA. He's averaged 27.2 points per game for his legendary career, and was pretty close to that mark last year with Phoenix, averaging 26.6 ppg, along with 6.0 assists and 4.2 boards. 

Photo: © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images