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'We hope he finishes his career here' - Phoenix Suns owner expects Kevin Durant to sign an extension in 2025

Originally posted on Basketball Network | By Orel Dizon | Last updated Nov 20, 2024 12:06 PM ET

At 36 years old, Kevin Durant is still playing at a high level for the Phoenix Suns. However, the end of his career is probably closer than people think. A question now is if he plans on jumping teams again to chase a ring if he can't win one in Phoenix.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia, though, wants Durant to spend the remainder of his playing career with the franchise. The billionaire is even expecting his star to sign an extension next summer.

"[Durant] loves being in Phoenix, we love having him," Ishbia told ESPN. "He's off to an amazing start this season — one of the MVP leaders — and we're off to a very good start. We expect Kevin to sign an extension, be with us for the long term. We hope he finishes his career here in Phoenix."

"You can't sign a two-year extension this last summer. You can't do it based on the NBA rules. So we figured, after the season, we'll talk about it, take care of it. Kevin wants to be here. We want Kevin here. There's never been one grumbling of anything different," he added.

In it for the long run

When Ishbia made a bid to purchase the Suns in 2022, he had a grand vision for the team. The sale was finalized in the middle of the 2022-23 campaign, and his first order of business was to bring in Durant to provide Devin Booker with a superstar partner.

Wednesday, 11 AM: Mat Ishbia starts his first day on the job as the new owner of the Phoenix Suns.

Wednesday, 11 PM: Mat Ishbia finalizes a trade for Kevin Durant. pic.twitter.com/8XmzpHiulT
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 9, 2023

The price to land KD was incredibly high. Phoenix gave up Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and a handful of first-round draft picks in the deal. So, it stands to reason that Ishbia would want the 14-time All-Star to stay long-term.

It doesn't look like Durant plans to go anywhere, even as his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season.

It appears he opted to bypass signing a one-year contract extension before the start of the regular season in order to be eligible for a two-year, $120 million maximum extension in the 2025 offseason. That deal would keep him under contract with the Suns until the summer of 2028, right before he turns 40.

So, Ishbia might get what he wants all along.

Invaluable to the Suns

As great as "Durantula" has been throughout his career, he has continued to be a lightning rod of criticism, which Bill Simmons attributed to his authenticity. Whatever the case may be, the Suns know the former MVP's real value.

When he was on the lineup, Phoenix ran to an 8-1 record, which was good enough for the squad to tie the Golden State Warriors for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference. He also started to generate MVP buzz because of his elite production and role in steering the Suns to one of the league's best records.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant – off to an MVP-caliber start to the NBA season – suffered a left calf strain on Friday night and will miss be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Durant has led Suns to a first place start in the Western Conference at 8-1. pic.twitter.com/tVpUfeMcZ7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 9, 2024

Unfortunately, "Slim Reaper" sustained a left calf strain that caused him to sit out the previous six games. In an intriguing turn of events, his crew has gone 1-5 since then. Evidently, the Suns can't wait to get him back.

This article first appeared on Basketball Network and was syndicated with permission.

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