Kevin Durant paid tribute to former teammate Russell Westbrook on August 13, 2026, a day after Westbrook announced his retirement following 18 NBA seasons. The Houston Rockets forward, entering his second season with the team, is heading into 2026-27 on a two-year, $90 million contract extension that runs through a 2027-28 player option, while he continues to voice interest in a fifth Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Durant’s Tribute to Westbrook
Westbrook announced his retirement on August 12. Durant responded the next day with a lengthy message on X, reflecting on their eight seasons together as teammates on the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the pair reached the 2012 NBA Finals.
Durant wrote that Westbrook was “quiet and methodical,” pushing back on the idea that his former teammate’s on-court intensity made him simply loud. He described Westbrook leading by example and said he found the approach inspiring, both as a teammate and watching Westbrook’s influence on other players. Durant also recounted asking former Thunder assistant coach Maurice Cheeks whether working out before or after practice was harder, after noticing Westbrook had already finished his own workouts each morning. Durant said the exchange changed his own training routine.
The two players’ relationship became a major storyline in NBA circles after Durant left Oklahoma City for the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Durant’s message did not dwell on that split but acknowledged their history had included rough patches.
Contract Status Heading Into 2026-27
Durant signed a two-year, $90 million extension with Houston in October 2025, shortly after the Rockets acquired him from the Phoenix Suns. The deal includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. According to Durant’s business partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, Durant was eligible for an extension worth roughly $120 million over two years but chose to leave about $30 million on the table to give Houston more flexibility to build around him.
Durant’s base salary for 2026-27 is listed at roughly $43.9 million, with a $46.1 million player option for 2027-28. The extension pushed his career on-court earnings past $598 million, surpassing LeBron James for the highest total in NBA history.
2025-26 Season Performance
In his first season in Houston, Durant played 78 regular-season games and averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 36.4 minutes per game. He shot 52.0% from the field, 41.3% from three-point range and 87.4% from the free-throw line, ranking 11th in the league in scoring.
The NBA named Durant to its All-NBA Second Team for the season, his 12th career All-NBA selection and sixth as a second-team member. The honor made him the first player in league history to earn All-NBA recognition with five different franchises: the Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Suns and Rockets. He also earned his 16th All-Star selection and, during the season, passed Wilt Chamberlain, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Jordan to move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Durant’s postseason ended early. He appeared in only one game of Houston’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 23 points with six rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes, before an ankle injury kept him out for the remainder of the series, which Houston lost.
Olympic Ambitions for 2028
Durant has said he wants to be considered for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he would have a chance to become the first men’s basketball player to win five gold medals. He has won gold with Team USA in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 and is the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Speaking with reporters in February 2026, Durant said the decision rests with USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill and the organization, adding that he wants to earn a roster spot through continued production rather than reputation. He would turn 40 shortly before the 2028 Games begin.
Houston’s 2026-27 Season Setup
The Rockets open their 2026-27 regular season at home against the Dallas Mavericks on October 21, followed by a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs at Austin’s Moody Center on October 23. Houston will play two preseason games against Dallas in Macao as part of the NBA China Games before closing its preseason slate at home against Oklahoma City on October 15.
Houston’s roster this season includes returning point guard Fred VanVleet, back after missing all of 2025-26 with a torn ACL, along with center Alperen Sengun and forward Amen Thompson, both key pieces of the team’s young core. The Rockets are coming off a first-round playoff exit and are looking to advance further with a healthier roster around Durant.
Career Legacy
Durant has won two NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards with Golden State, an MVP award in 2014, four scoring titles and Rookie of the Year honors. His career scoring average stands at roughly 27.1 points per game across more than 1,200 regular-season games, and he ranks among the top five scorers in NBA history.
As the 2026-27 season approaches, Durant’s on-court production remains a central question for Houston, while his contract structure gives him the flexibility to reassess his situation as a free agent in 2027 if he exercises his option not to return.
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