Kevin Durant Explains Why Sacrificing $30 Million For Rockets Contract Extension Was A “No-Brainer”

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Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant accepted a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Rockets after an entire summer of negotiations. It also involved considerations on ensuring that the Rockets maintain financial flexibility to make other roster moves like extending Tari Eason and potentially signing a player to the 15th roster spot after December due to second apron restrictions.

Therefore, despite being eligible for a $120 million max extension with the Rockets, Durant decided to sacrifice on $30 million in potential salary to ensure that the Rockets keep their future secure. His teammates categorized this move as a ‘generous’ gesture from the superstar.

Following the extension, Durant spoke to the Rockets media scrum after their final practice before the regular season opener against Thunder, where he addressed why he made this decision.

“I’m excited, that’s what the intent was when I came here. Trying to build with this group as long as possible, so it was a no-brainer to sign on that line,” said Durant when asked about what the contract extension meant to him.

“I mean just talking to Rafael [Stone], Ime [Udoka] on how they want to build the team and how I see myself in this organization. I just thought it was a perfect contract for us. So you I’m glad we can get that out the way.”

“We won’t have to worry about, you know, external noise throughout the season if I didn’t have a contract signed. So you just worry about basketball and focus on the season,” said Durant when asked about why he took $30 million lesser than what he could have asked for.

“Yeah, it means a lot. I mean, it’s NBA is a crazy place, but to have a contract solidified with a team that both sides wanted this to happen and feels like a real partnership. So, looking forward to keep building with the team and see where we go from here, I’m excited.”

Subsequently, a reporter asked Durant on what he saw with the vision of the franchise and the leadership that made him want to stay long-term and plan his retirement in Houston.

“Well, just how dedicated they were to turning this around and making Houston a contender again and you know and very dedicated to the city of Houston and this franchise. So, I could feel that as an opponent.”

“To walk in here every day. You see the attention to detail from everybody, not just the leadership of Rafael, and Ime and Tillman, but everybody who works in here is the level of detail that it takes to become a successful team and franchise,” said Durant in conclusion.

One of the key reasons why Durant seems to have taken lesser money was so that the Rockets could extend Tari Eason before Monday’s deadline. Unfortunately, the two sides could not come to an agreement, per NBA Insider Shams Charania and now Durant’s young teammate will enter restricted free agency next summer.

Durant is coming off a stellar 17th season in the NBA where he earned his 15th All-Star selection in the league. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebound, and 4.2 assists while shooting 43% from three-point range. It shows that Durant is still playing at an elite level despite the age concerns.

This generous move from Durant to accept $30 million lesser will go a long way in cementing his legacy with the Rockets, whether or not it converts to a championship in the future.

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Chaitanya Dadhwal is an NBA Analyst and Columnist at Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. He fell in love with basketball in 2018 after seeing James Harden in his prime. He joined the sports journalism world in 2021, one year before finishing his law school in 2022. He attended Jindal Global Law School in Sonipat, India, where his favorite subject was also Sports Law.He transitioned from law to journalism after realizing his true passion for sports and basketball in particular. Even though his journalism is driven by his desire to understand both sides of an argument and give a neutral perspective, he openly admits he is biased towards the Houston Rockets and Arsenal. But that intersection of in-depth analysis and passion helps him simplify the fine print and complex language for his readers.His goal in life is to open his own sports management agency one day and represent athletes. He wants to ensure he can help bridge the gap in equal opportunity for athletes across various sports and different genders playing the same sport.
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