Kevin Durant Would Like To Retire From NBA With Houston Rockets: ‘That’s The Intent’

During an interview with Chris Mannix of SI, Kevin Durant said he would like to retire from the NBA with the Houston Rockets.

Durant is 37 years old. He’s been in the NBA since 2007.

“I’m looking to be here as long as I can, play my last years of my career,” Kevin Durant said. “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 has one year left on his contract. The Rockets are expected to sign the NBA legend to a contract extension.

The Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for Durant on July 6.

Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks last season in 62 games. He shot 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line for the Suns, who missed the 2025 playoffs.

The Rockets, coached by Ime Udoka, made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.

A 15-time All-Star, Durant enters this season with career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He won back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with Golden State.

Durant has won only two playoff series (2021, 2023) since leaving the Warriors for the Nets in 2019.

A top 75 player of all time, Durant is a four-time scoring champion and a one-time MVP. He will make his Houston regular-season debut against his old team, Oklahoma City, on October 21.

The Rockets are expected to start Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün. It’s unknown who will start at point guard after Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an offseason workout.