Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia intends to offer Kevin Durant a $120 million contract extension next summer after the two sides bypassed an eligible one-year agreement in July. Ishbia expressed mutual interest in the deal, which would help bring both Durant and the Suns closer to their goal of seeing the 14-time NBA All-Star retire with the team.
“(Durant) loves being in Phoenix, we love having him, He’s off to an amazing start this season -- one of the MVP leaders -- and we’re off to a very good start. We expect Kevin to sign an extension, be with us for the long term. We hope he finishes his career here in Phoenix. You can’t sign a two-year extension this last summer, you can’t do it based on the NBA rules. So we figured after the season we’ll talk about it, take care of it," Ishbia shared with ESPN.
Durant’s Current Contract and Injury Setback
Durant’s existing contract runs through the 2025-26 season, and his All-Star teammate, Devin Booker, is in the first year of his four-year, $220 million extension with the Suns. Durant is currently sidelined due to a calf injury, which has kept him out for the last six games. Phoenix has struggled without him, going 1-5 after starting the season 8-1. This season, Durant has averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
Ishbia's Bold First Move as Suns Owner
When Mat Ishbia purchased the Suns on February 6, 2023, for $4 billion, he immediately made a high-impact decision, securing a blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets. Ishbia described the move as a “no-brainer” in an interview with ESPN’s Shams Charania.
"I felt great about the trade then, I feel better about it even now. To me it was a no-brainer. A thousand times out of a thousand you make that trade to get Kevin Durant on your team with three and a half years left on his contract. You put him next to Devin Booker and you go play," Ishbia said.
The Suns' Efforts to Build a Championship Team
Ishbia, a businessman by nature, has been focused on building the best possible team. As CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, his success has been rooted in creating quality products, which he has carried over into his management of the Suns. When acquiring Durant, Ishbia knew the team needed a significant change. The previous core, which had led Phoenix to the 2021 NBA Finals, had run its course with aging point guard Chris Paul and a strained relationship with center DeAndre Ayton.
Durant’s tenure has had ups and downs, including a second-round exit in his first season, and an early sweep by the Timberwolves in the 2024 postseason. However, Ishbia believes that the Suns’ current roster gives the team the best chance at winning a championship.
Durant’s Longevity and Continued Dominance
Even at 36 years old, Durant has shown no signs of slowing down. In his 17th season, he continues to produce at an elite level, and his longevity is often compared to that of LeBron James. Despite the calf injury, Durant’s impact on the court remains undeniable.
