Kevin Durant’s $90M Rockets contract gives him most career earnings in NBA history

Kevin Durant will not be playing on an expiring contract in his first season in Houston.

The 15-time NBA All-Star has agreed to a two-year extension worth $90 million with the Rockets, including a player option for 2027-28, his business partner Rich Kleiman told ESPN.

The deal is for about $30 million less than the maximum contract extension of $120 million over two years that the 37-year-old Durant was eligible for following an offseason trade from the Suns.

The former Nets forward is slated to earn $54.7 million this season, and the new deal will push his career earnings to $598.2 million, the most in NBA history. Lakers star LeBron James held the previous mark at $583.9 million, including future earnings.

Durant was acquired from Phoenix in July in a record seven-team blockbuster swap, with the Suns picking up Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No.10 overall pick (Khaman Maluach) and two second-round picks.

Durant averaged 26.6 points and shot 43.0 percent from 3-point range in 62 appearances last season, but the Suns missed the playoffs with a 36-46 record.

The Rockets finished last season with 52 wins for the No.2 seed in the Western Conference, but they were knocked out by the Warriors in seven games in the first round.

Durant, a two-time NBA champion with Golden State, should provide Houston with perimeter scoring alongside All-Star big man Alperen Sengun.

KD ranks No. 8 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and he should pass Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki in career points this season, as long as he remains healthy. His current streak of 16 consecutive seasons averaging at least 25.0 points per game ranks second all-time to James, whose 20-year streak since 2004-05 ended last season when he posted 24.4 per game for the Lakers.

The Nets traded Durant to Phoenix at the 2023 trade deadline, acquiring since-departed Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson in addition to four first-round draft picks.