It sounds like the Houston Rockets can expect to see a lot more of Kevin Durant.
The 37-year-old 15-time All-Star and prized trade acquisition of the offseason is entering the final season of his contract. Durant told reporters at Houston’s media day session Monday, Sept. 29 that he thinks his stay will be longer.
“I do see myself signing a contract extension,” Durant said. “I can’t tell you exactly when that will happen, but I do see it happening. Just seeing the quick progression of this franchise, from where it was right after that James Harden-Chris Paul era, seeing when Ime (Udoka) got here and how he turned it around so fast.
“And I have some connections here within the organization, people I work with around the league already, so it felt organic and natural coming into the gym and being a Houston Rocket for the first time.”
The Rockets shipped Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and an array of draft capital to the Phoenix Suns in June to acquire Durant, instantly making the Rockets a potential title contender in a crowded Western Conference.
Durant’s contract is set to count $54.7 million against the salary cap, according to Spotrac.com. Any extension Durant would sign — unless he opted to leave money on the table — would presumably be around that range.
Durant, one of the premier players of his generation, is coming off a season in which he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He joins an already talented Rockets team that boasts length and athleticism and can defend extremely well, all of which should help Houston match up against the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I never talked about championships on any team I’ve been on,” Durant said of expectations. “You just put your head down and work every single day. But the formula, I’ve felt the last few years in the league, is to have size, to have guys that can penetrate, guys that can create extra possessions for you, guys that can switch and guard multiple positions, length and athleticism, discipline, effort every single night, from a scheme perspective and camaraderie, continuity — all of that stuff matters.
“I feel like we’ve got bits and pieces of all of those attributes on our team now. It’s just all about how we cook it up together and form who we want to be and our identity.”
