Modern sports science is improving by the year, and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has continued to play at an All-Star level since turning 40 years old last year.

Could the same happen in the next few years with Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant?

Advertisement

Durant turns 37 years old later this month, and as things stand, the 2025-26 season is the final year of his existing contract.

But Durant is still performing at an elite level, and he’s hopeful that will continue for some time. (So, too, are the Rockets — hence this offseason’s trade.)

This week, the former Most Valuable Player (MVP) and future Hall of Famer took part in a sit-down interview at CNBC and Boardroom’s annual “Game Plan” summit. As part of that interview, Durant was asked about the prospect of retirement, and he made it clear that it’s not immediately in the cards.

Via Law Murray of The Athletic, here’s what Durant said when asked how much longer he wants to play in the NBA:

As long as I can. I haven’t put a number on it. I obviously think about retirement every year, and what it would be like. … I don’t even want to think about it right now, but when people are asking me these questions every day, I can’t help myself (laughs).

But I still enjoy going to the gym, and I enjoy that struggle of getting better every day, and grinding as an NBA player. Hopefully in my 40s, I can play until then.

James turns 41 years old in December, and Tom Brady played quarterback in the NFL until after his 45th birthday. So, there is at least some recent precedent for a star athlete playing at a high level through that window.

Advertisement

Of course, should Durant suffer a major injury or his play show signs of an age related downturn, the thinking could change. But as of September 2025, that has yet to happen.

With the Phoenix Suns last season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting an extremely efficient 52.7% overall and 43.0% on 3-pointers. Those are fantastic individual numbers for any age, let alone 36, and Durant’s expectation is to have similar success in his age-37 season with the Rockets.

Should Houston ultimately extend his contract — and if Durant wants to end his career with the Rockets, as some reports have suggested — playing into his 40s could give him at least four seasons in Houston before retirement becomes more of a consideration.

As for the here and now, training camp for the 2025-26 campaign opens on Tuesday, Sept. 30, a day after Durant’s 37th birthday.

Advertisement

More: How will Kevin Durant’s game age in Houston? NBA executives see ‘new normal’

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Kevin Durant hopes to extend NBA career to age 40 and perhaps beyond