The 37-year-old 15-time All-Star and prized trade acquisition of the offseason is entering the final season of his contract. Durant told reporters atHouston'smedia daysession Monday, Sept. 29 that he thinks his stay will be longer.
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"I do see myself signing a contract extension," Durant said. "I can't tell you exactly when that will happen, but I do see it happening. Just seeing the quick progression of this franchise, from where it was right after that James Harden-Chris Paul era, seeing when Ime (Udoka) got here and how he turned it around so fast.
"And I have some connections here within the organization, people I work with around the league already, so it felt organic and natural coming into the gym and being a Houston Rocket for the first time."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
The Rockets shippedJalen Green,Dillon Brooksand an array of draft capital to thePhoenix Sunsin June to acquire Durant, instantly making the Rockets a potential title contender in a crowded Western Conference.
Durant's contract is set to count $54.7 million against the salary cap,according to Spotrac.com. Any extension Durant would sign — unless he opted to leave money on the table — would presumably be around that range.
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Durant, one of the premier players of his generation, is coming off a season in which he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He joins an already talented Rockets team that boasts length and athleticism and can defend extremely well, all of which should help Houston match up against the reigning NBA champions, theOklahoma City Thunder.
Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) poses for a picture during the team's media day.
"I never talked about championships on any team I've been on," Durant said of expectations. "You just put your head down and work every single day. But the formula, I've felt the last few years in the league, is to have size, to have guys that can penetrate, guys that can create extra possessions for you, guys that can switch and guard multiple positions, length and athleticism, discipline, effort every single night, from a scheme perspective and camaraderie, continuity — all of that stuff matters.
"I feel like we've got bits and pieces of all of those attributes on our team now. It's just all about how we cook it up together and form who we want to be and our identity."
