Kevin Durant Embarks on 17th NBA Season, Reflects on Career and Future
As Kevin Durant steps onto the court for his 17th NBA season, the Phoenix Suns star finds himself in a reflective state of mind. At age 35, Durant is not just thinking about the game ahead, but also contemplating the journey that basketball has taken him on and what the future holds.
Durant's illustrious career commenced when the Seattle SuperSonics selected him as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, a team that would later become the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, Durant has amassed an impressive array of accolades, including four Olympic gold medals representing Team USA. Despite facing numerous challenges, his passion for the sport remains undiminished.
“As I get older in the league and the league is getting younger, I tend to think about retirement more. It creeps in my mind for sure,” Durant recently revealed. This candid admission sheds light on the internal dialogue of one of the game’s greatest talents as he balances the joy of playing with the inevitable thoughts of life after basketball.
Currently committed to the Phoenix Suns, Durant has two more fully guaranteed years left on his contract with the franchise, ensuring that fans in the Valley can enjoy his performances through at least 2026. Reflecting on his time in Phoenix, Durant shared, “I love playing in Phoenix, I love our fans, I love the city. ... I realized what our mission is by being in the Valley and I realized how much these people care about their team. I started to understand the history of the Phoenix Suns and I am happy to be a part of it. One day, I would like to receive the franchise's Ring of Honor.”
Durant's tenure in the NBA has spanned nearly two decades and seen him share the stage with other talented players from his draft class, including Al Horford, Mike Conley, and Jeff Green. Since beginning his basketball journey at the age of eight, Durant has dedicated almost his entire life to the sport, a commitment that underscores his deep connection to the game.
“I honestly don't know what I'll do [when I stop playing]. I have a lot of different interests. I definitely want to stay around the game... That's gonna be a huge, huge transition. I've been at this since I was 8. It's gonna be hopefully 30 years of me doing this where every day was centered around the game of basketball. It hasn't been no other lifestyle but this,” Durant shared, highlighting the significant role basketball has played in his life and the uncertainty of what comes next.
As fans and analysts speculate on Durant's future beyond his active playing days, he remains focused on the present, intent on contributing to the Suns' success and leaving a lasting legacy. "Right now I would say yes [about staying in the game], but that's just a figure of speech, I can't know what's going to happen," Durant said, leaving the door open for various possibilities.
As Durant gears up for yet another season, the basketball world eagerly watches, knowing that with each game, they are witnessing one of the sport’s legends add another chapter to his storied career. Whether on the court or in future ventures, Kevin Durant's impact on the game will be felt for years to come.