Kevin Durant has accomplished nearly everything there is in basketball, but he’s not ready to think about walking away just yet. In a recent interview on ‘Game Plan,’ the 36-year-old superstar revealed he hasn’t put a number on how much longer he’ll play and hopes his career stretches into his 40s.
“As long as I can. I haven’t put a number on it,” said Durant. “Obviously, you think about retirement every year, and you think about what it’d be like. But when people ask me these questions every day, I can’t help but think about it.”
LeBron James has set a new precedent for NBA longevity, and many are wondering how long Durant will be able to hold up. For now, despite the constant questioning from fans and media, Durant feels like he still has years of elite-level basketball to play.
“I still enjoy going to the gym. I still enjoy that struggle of getting better every day and grinding as an NBA player,” Durant added. “Hopefully it’s in my 40s and I can play until then.”
Athletic decline is part of the natural aging process for any athlete. What really signals the end is when players lose the motivation to grind on the practice court and improve their game. When the process stops being sustainable, that’s usually when star players know their time has come to call it quits.
In Durant’s case, his passion remains stronger than ever, and his game remains highly effective. In 62 games for the Suns last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 52.7% shooting.
While Durant has not won a title since 2018, his fresh start with the Rockets gives him another opportunity to add to his resume. At 36 years old, he may lead them to prosperity this upcoming campaign alongside Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Fred VanVleet.
Of course, Durant isn’t the priority in Houston, and he’ll have to embrace a new role if he wants to make the Rockets his long-term team. With his contract set to expire next summer, Durant’s future is still uncertain, and he may find himself on a new franchise again depending on how the 2025-26 campaign plays out.
For now, all Durant knows is that he’s nowhere close to retirement, and with at least another four years in him, he could rival LeBron in terms of longevity and consistency as an NBA superstar.
As a two-time champion, MVP, and 15x All-Star, Durant has nothing left to prove, and he’s in this just simply for the love of the game. He, LeBron James, and Chris Paul are the last of a generation and are the strongest examples of how superior talent and hard work can sustain greatness for 15+ years.
Durant has always been one of the purest scorers in NBA history, but his biggest battle now is against time. If his body holds up and his passion doesn’t fade, we may be looking at a version of KD that pushes the limits of longevity the way LeBron has. For someone who still loves the grind, there’s no reason to believe he won’t keep chasing the game into his 40s.
