Standing on stage at a star-studded Fanatics Fest at New York City in June, Kevin Durant got hit with breaking news mid-panel: he’d been traded to Houston. Fans shouted it out, and Durant, initially confused, asked them to repeat themselves before it sank in. When moderator Taylor Rooks asked how he felt about joining the Rockets, the crowd erupted with boos, and Durant just smiled, saying, “We’re gonna see, man. We’re gonna see.” That grin hid a lot, but now, the real feelings behind it are finally coming to light as his Houston future starts to take shape.

“My time in Phoenix has come to an end. All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way.” Kevin Durant made NBA history—literally. His move from the Suns to the Rockets was part of the biggest trade ever, involving seven teams: Phoenix, Houston, Lakers, Hawks, Timberwolves, Warriors, and Nets. The deal shook the league, sending Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix, bringing Clint Capela back to Houston, and giving the Rockets the 10th overall pick, Khaman Maluach.

When asked how he felt about the trade from Houston in CNBC x Boardroom’s GamePlan 2025 Summit, Durant admitted, “I mean… I was a little upset because, you know. I felt like we built a solid relationship — me and the Phoenix Suns — and to hear that from a different party was kind of upsetting. But that’s just the name of the game. So I got over that quickly and was trying to figure out what the next steps were.” During his time with the Suns, Durant hit some major milestones:

• He became the fastest player to reach 30,000 career points in February 2025.
• He also joined the 50-40-90 club again in 2022-23, after first doing it in 2012-13, and earned an NBA All-Star selection in 2025.
• Across 145 games with Phoenix, he averaged 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, cementing his legacy in the desert.

Durant opened up about the timing of the trade, saying, “And then, you know, so since me being on the market in February, but there’s also a trade deadline, it was just, you know, people were kind of just, you know, seeing how their seasons played out and what they needed for their teams. And we knew where we would revisit that right around summertime, and Houston kind of jumped on it.” Durant had originally joined the Suns in a February 2023 deadline trade and was on a $54.7 million contract for the 2025-26 season, giving him some leverage in shaping his future with Phoenix.

Back in June, it was reported that if once traded, Durant would be eligible for a two-year extension starting July 6 worth up to $122 million, or $124 million if he waited six months. He was nearly sent to Golden State in February, but made it clear he wanted to finish the season with the Suns. Sources told ESPN he was blindsided by Phoenix being willing to include him in trade talks—but then Houston stepped in, changing the whole picture.

Durant has been with the Rockets for over two months, and fans are buzzing to see him chase a title. Meanwhile, the Suns have quietly been shaping their future. After a busy offseason—including buying out Bradley Beal—they’ve built a roster stacked with young talent, with six of 14 players on standard contracts aged 24 or younger. Devin Booker remains the anchor, while Khaman Maluach is the most exciting new talent, and Jalen Green will need to prove his scoring consistency. Phoenix went 36-46 in 2024-25, but with this youth movement, their long-term outlook is looking bright.

Kevin Durant’s next chapter: Houston looks to lock down a long-term deal

The big question now isn’t just about Durant joining the Rockets; it’s how long he’ll stay in Houston. Right now, Durant is on a one-year deal worth $54.7 million, carried over from his Suns contract, but an extension is very much on the table. Will Guillory of The Athletic reported, “All signs point” to Kevin Durant signing an extension with the Houston Rockets soon that will “tie him to Houston for the foreseeable future.” The idea is to lock him in early so he can lead a talented—but still young—Rockets roster and finish his career on a high note.

Houston is being smart about the timing, focusing first on extending Tari Eason, who also has a year left on his deal, before turning full attention to Kevin Durant. Guillory noted the Rockets will do “whatever it takes” to prevent KD from hitting unrestricted free agency after the 2025-26 season. NBA analyst Brian Windhorst added that while Houston would open the checkbook for Durant, it won’t be a Super Max extension—at least not right away. Waiting six months could bump the numbers slightly, giving both sides more flexibility.

Early reports suggest Durant could land a two-year extension worth roughly $112 million, or $55 million per season, which is reasonable given the NBA’s new media rights deals and the evolving Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Rockets are balancing future payrolls while ensuring rising stars like Amen Thompson won’t be blocked by punitive CBA restrictions. At 37, Durant’s age limits the maximum length of any deal, but one way or another, it looks like Houston and KD are on track to lock in a partnership that could define the next chapter of both his career and the franchise.