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Kevin Durant Reveals Big Goal for NBA Career After Rockets Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 9:05 PM ET

Kevin Durant has been around the NBA block more times than we can count after 18 seasons of breaking ankles, draining clutch threes, hoisting trophies and silencing critics.

You’d think a guy with MVPs, Finals rings and All-Star nods piled up like laundry would be content to ride off into the sunset, right? Well, not KD. Now, with a fresh start in Houston after the blockbuster Rockets trade, the basketball world is buzzing about what’s next for him. And as it turns out, the one goal he’s chasing might just surprise you.

While speaking to LeBron James and Steven Nash at the Mind the Game podcast, Durant shared his thoughts on longevity and how long he wants to be in the league. He said, “Some people say imma go 22 (seasons) straight…It’s a contract I feel like you’ve gotta have with yourself. To have a long career, that’s the goal. To be in the league for 20 years.”

KD on the commitment to longevity in the NBA:

“Some people say ‘oh, I want to go play baseball’… Some play 22 straight [years].”

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— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 11, 2025

Durant even joked that once you’ve got a couple of rings and a few MVPs under your belt, staying hungry isn’t exactly easy while also taking a little jab on Michael Jordan who played baseball after winning three NBA championships.

But for KD, hitting that 20-year mark in the league is a whole different level of greatness. He knows it takes a special kind of mindset to keep going that long and he’s all in for it.

Durant’s shot at hitting that 20-year milestone just got a big boost thanks to one of the wildest trades the NBA’s ever seen. The past weekend, the league pulled off its biggest trade ever, and at the heart of it was KD packing his bags for Houston.

The Rockets landed Durant by giving up Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a mountain of picks and players. Seven teams and 13 players were tangled up in this blockbuster deal. Now, with a fresh jersey and a new city, Durant’s longevity dream is alive and kicking.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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