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\nKevin Durant signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, ESPN reported on Oct. 19The star forward now holds the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history, dethroning LeBron JamesDurant\u2019s career earnings, based on current and future salaries, is $598.2 million, while James\u2019 career total is $583.9 million<\/p>\n
Kevin Durant<\/a> just extended his contract with the Houston Rockets \u2014 and made NBA history in the process.\n<\/p>\n With his latest contract extension, the forward, 37, now holds the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history, according to ESPN<\/a>. He dethroned another NBA legend, LeBron James<\/a>, to claim the record.\n<\/p>\n Durant has agreed to a $90 million contract extension with the Rockets \u2014 a two-year extension with a player option for the 2027-28 season \u2014 ESPN reported on Sunday, Oct. 19, citing Durant\u2019s business partner Rich Kleiman. The duo co-founded media network Boardroom, where Kleiman is CEO.\n<\/p>\n The newly minted extension brings Durant\u2019s total career earnings, based on current and future salaries, to $598.2 million, meaning he has surpassed James\u2019 total of $583.9 million, according to ESPN. The Rockets forward is earning $54.7 million this season, and has three years and a total of $144.7 million on his current contract, per the outlet.\n<\/p>\n Kevin Durant.<\/p>\n Alex Slitz\/Getty<\/p>\n Durant could have signed for even more, Kleiman told ESPN. The NBA fixture was eligible for a maximum contract extension of $120 million over two years, but knew when he picked the Rockets as a trade destination \u2014 he was traded to the team earlier this year \u2014 that he was making a financial sacrifice in favor of long-term partnership, the Boardroom CEO said.\n<\/p>\n Specifically, the 15-time NBA All-Star could have earned $30 million more, Kleiman told ESPN, but opted instead to give the Houston franchise team-building flexibility.\n<\/p>\n The Phoenix Suns traded Durant \u2014 who has also previously played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors \u2014 to the Rockets this summer, and found out about his move while giving a live interview<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n In a viral clip on X<\/a>, the star forward could be seen learning about his trade while appearing onstage as part of a panel at Fanatics Fest in New York City on June 22. Speaking after the panel, Durant also told commentator Kay Adams<\/a> that he is “looking forward” to moving to the Rockets.\n<\/p>\n “Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I’m glad it’s over with,” Durant told Adams, before admitting that the trade wasn’t a complete surprise. “I had an idea, but I didn’t know exactly when it was gonna happen. I’m glad we kind of did this onstage, it worked out.”\n<\/p>\n Kevin Durant plays for the Houston Rockets on Oct. 14, 2025.<\/p>\n Mercedes Oliver\/NBAE via Getty\u00a0<\/p>\n The NBA star \u2014 who ranks eighth in total NBA career points, per ESPN \u2014 also said that he\u2019d informed the Suns of a few teams he\u2019d like to be traded to and the Rockets were on his list, as he felt that they were coming off a “great season.”\n<\/p>\n He also told the commentator he considered himself “a good addition” to the Texas-based team.\n<\/p>\n