Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has contract extension options

Kevin Durant has options.

He can either agree to a one-year extension with the Phoenix Suns for $59.5 million through the 2026-27 season or wait until next summer to sign a two-year extension for $123.8 million, ESPN reported on Thursday.

“I don’t even think about it,” Durant said after Thursday’s shooting at the team’s practice facility. “I’m just going to play out my contract and focus on that. Focus on the team. I haven’t really had any discussions with anyone about a contract. I’m trying to focus on basketball.”

Durant has been eligible for the one-year extension since July 12 and has until Monday to sign it. He will receive an additional $64.3 million if he opts for the two-year extension.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be in this position for 18 years, so the financial part isn’t really important to me,” Durant said. “I’m just trying to keep getting better, keep improving my game and see how good I can get. That has always been my main focus. When the time has come, the time has come. At the moment I have two seasons left on my contract, so I will focus on those two.”

The two-time Finals MVP was at the center of trade speculation this summer, leading the Suns to publicly say he was happy with the team and vice versa.

“The most important thing is that Kevin loves being here and we love having Kevin here,” Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein said in an interview with The Arizona Republic this summer.

Phoenix can only offer a maximum one-year extension due to the “Over-38 Rule,” which imposes a contract restriction of at least four years for a player who would be at least 38 during that contract.

“The relationship is the most important thing,” Bartelstein continued. “The relationship is in great shape.” I talk to (Durant’s agent) Rich Kleiman, who works with Kevin, all the time. The conversations are great, not just about enlargement issues but about everything that has happened.”

Team owner Mat Ishbia and general manager James Jones continued this theme on media day.

“Everyone talks about Kevin, Kevin loves it here,” Suns team owner Mat Ishbia said Monday. “We love Kevin Durant.” We talk to him and his agent Rich Kleiman all the time. We don’t really go through contract extensions publicly, but I’ll tell you this. Kevin loves it. We love Kevin. We plan for Kevin to be here. Nothing will change.”

Durant’s current four-year, $194 million contract ends in 2025-26 and he will become an unrestricted free agent.

“We love having KD here,” Suns general manager James Jones said. “We want him here.” We’ll figure it out. Like Mat said, we don’t really talk about that publicly, but we do talk publicly about who really wants to be here and who is a good fit for us. We love KD, he loves being here. That goes without saying.

The Suns, as the league’s first $400 million team, have the highest payroll in the NBA, including the amounts they pay to exceed the league’s second tax threshold.

Regardless of whether Durant opted for a one- or two-year extension, the Suns would still have one of the highest payrolls in the league.

Devin Booker will be in the third year of his four-year, $224 million contract and is due $57 million in the 2026-27 season.

Bradley Beal will have a player option this season as part of his five-year, $251 million contract. He will be due $57.1 million this season. Beal has a no-trade clause.

Do you have any opinions on the current state of the suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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