Kevin Durant has never been one to tiptoe around basketball mortality. He laughs at the question, shrugs it off, but always circles back to it. Retirement, longevity, the end. The word feels foreign when attached to someone still averaging 27 a night, still pulling up from 30 feet with the same fluid ease he had as a rookie. But Durant admits it is on his mind. And when Kevin Durant admits something’s on his mind, you lean in.

“As long as I can,” Durant said when asked how long he plans to play in the NBA. “I mean, I haven’t put a number on it. I obviously think about retirement every year … but I still enjoy going to the gym. I still enjoy that struggle of getting better every day … so hopefully it’s in my 40s I can play until then.” There it is. The 40s. Durant is 36, with a resume so decorated it doesn’t need more glitter with two titles, two Finals MVPs, one league MVP, four golds in the Olympics, and a spot already carved into Springfield. Yet here he is, still hunting.

That vision stretches beyond the NBA. Durant also opened up about Team USA and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “Yeah, if I’m still me,” he said, before lighting up about the chance to keep representing the U.S. “It’s a dream come true. Just talking about it backstage, how iconic those last few games were … words can’t describe how that experience is.” Safe to assume, KD isn’t closing the door, but he’s not rushing either. And he hinted at coaching and team-ownership, too. What makes this so fascinating is timing.

Durant is in the final year of his current deal, set to earn $54.7 million in 2025-26. Once that season ends, he hits unrestricted free agency in July 2026. The Rockets, who acquired him after weeks of Spurs-to-KD trade speculation, now face the challenge of negotiating a new contract before he can explore the open market, potentially a max-level deal or something creatively structured to fit his veteran status. Remember, Durant missed the entire 2019-20 season with an Achilles tear and has battled lower leg issues for years. Every extra season feels like borrowed time.

But the thing is, Durant doesn’t look like he’s slowing. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 52.7 percent from the field. That’s absurd efficiency for someone logging his 18th NBA season. At 36, Durant is defying the usual aging curve, still scoring at a high clip, crashing the boards, and creating plays, which is proof that elite skill can outlast youth. But of course, Father Time doesn’t negotiate.

By the time the L.A. Olympics tip off, Durant will be 2 months away from being 40. Could he still be “himself”? He insists that’s the only version of him worth putting on the court. “I don’t want the gift of the veteran that comes to the end of the bench and gets a fit,” Durant said. So what does “still me” look like for Kevin Durant?

A bigger look at Kevin Durant’s future

If it’s anything close to last season, he remains one of the top five scorers in the NBA. That opens doors for any franchise, but also raises questions for the Houston Rockets. Do they extend him again? Durant’s decision also intertwines with Team USA’s future. By 2028, the next wave of stars like Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Victor Wembanyama (yes, France will be waiting), will define the Olympic stage. But Durant remains one of the most decorated Olympic players of all time for the U.S.

He has an average of approximately 26.0 points in gold medal games. His presence alone steadies the red, white, and blue. The dynamic is classic KD. On one hand, he admits the questions about retirement are “annoying.” On the other hand, he clearly thinks about it. He plays coy with coaching, “some days I’m up for it, some days I’m not,” but he’s long expressed interest in team ownership. “Of course,” Durant said of wanting to own part of a franchise. “These teams are going up, these leagues are getting more and more value every year. But it’s too much.” 

Too much? Maybe for today. But five years from now? Don’t bet against him. Durant has made a career of turning “too much” into his standard workload. And that’s why his timeline matters. If he really can stretch into his 40s, Durant isn’t just prolonging a career. He’s reshaping what the end looks like for NBA icons. We’re used to the fade-out, the ceremonial veteran on a contender, the farewell tour. Durant doesn’t want any of that.

He wants buckets, medals, and the rings. The 2028 Olympics might just be the last big stage for him to chase it all. So, what’s next? For now, more of the same. Durant lacing up, torching defenders, and answering questions about the end with the same sly grin. But keep July 2028 circled. If KD really is still KD by then, Los Angeles could witness one of the greatest ultimate acts the game has ever seen.