Kevin Durant Has Thought About Retirement ‘More’ With League Getting Younger

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant has thought about retirement “more” with the NBA getting younger. 

Durant, one of the greatest players in NBA history, turns 36 in September.

“As I get older in the league and the league is getting younger, I tend to think about retirement more.”

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant during final segment of #TVOneRaisingFame Sunday.

Was filmed in Phoenix.

Great work @tvonetv. I’ll have story on episode Monday. #Suns pic.twitter.com/Cqwdf87m2p

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) August 12, 2024

Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 52.3% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line. The two-time NBA champion will make $49.9 million next season.

The Suns fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Mike Budenholzer, who won the 2021 title with the Milwaukee Bucks against the Suns. 

Phoenix was swept in the first round of the 2024 playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Durant, who helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, told NBA reporter Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he’s looking forward to next season. 

“I’m excited about the season, Bud, his staff, our team,” Durant told Andscape. “We’re getting another year to just get comfortable with one another. Also, we have been underestimated so far this summer since the season ended with a sweep. We deserve to be underestimated as a team, but I’d like that we’ll be able to play a more chip on our shoulders coming in here next [season] to prove some people different.”

There were rumors that Durant was unhappy in Phoenix since the club was swept by Minnesota, but Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein put an end to that noise quickly. 

“The most important thing is Kevin loves being here and we love having Kevin here,” Bartelstein said, via The Arizona Republic. “He’s focused on the Olympics, but we’re always having dialogue. The relationship is what matters the most. The relationship is in a great spot. I talk to (Durant’s agent) Rich Kleiman, who works with Kevin, all the time. Conversations are great not just on extension stuff, but on all things that have been going on.”

A future Hall of Famer, Durant has career averages of 27.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns.