Speaking to reporters on Thursday, including Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, Suns star Kevin Durant downplayed the possibility of signing a one-year, $59.5M extension prior to Monday’s deadline. Durant can only tack on one year to his current contract due to the Over-38 rule.
“I’m not even thinking about it,” Durant said after Thursday’s shootaround. “I’m just going to play out my contract really, and just focus on that. Focus on the team. I haven’t even really had conversations with anybody about a contract. Trying to focus on basketball.”
Durant, who became the first men’s basketball player to win four Olympic gold medals over the summer, will earn $51.8M in 2024-25, followed by $54.7M in 2025-26.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Mark, there’s a “strong likelihood” that Durant will hold off on extension talks until next offseason, when he’d be eligible to sign a two-year, $123.8M extension.
Durant, 36, is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history, with 14 All-Star nods, 11 All-NBA appearances, four scoring titles, an MVP, two championships and two Finals MVPs on his résumé.
In 75 regular-season games last season, the 6-foot-11 forward averaged 27.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.9 SPG and 1.2 BPG on .523/.413/.856 shooting (37.2 MPG).
