Kevin Durant Rockets Into NBA History And Fortune

Kevin Durant’s basketball journey is the stuff of legend, and as of January 2026, the 37-year-old Houston Rockets forward is still adding chapters to his storied career. Now in his 18th NBA season, Durant is not just a force on the hardwood—he’s also a global icon with a net worth estimated at a staggering $300 million. How did Durant reach such rarefied air, both as a player and as a business mogul? Let’s dig into the remarkable rise of one of the game’s greatest scorers and wealthiest athletes.

Durant’s resume practically glitters: two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, four NBA scoring titles, NBA Rookie of the Year, four Olympic gold medals, 15 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA team nods, and a place on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He currently ranks seventh among all-time NBA scoring leaders—a testament to his consistency and lethal scoring touch. Even at 37, Durant shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to anchor a young Houston Rockets squad that’s right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

Born on September 29, 1988, in Washington, D.C., Kevin Wayne Durant’s early life was shaped by adversity and inspiration. His parents divorced when he was an infant, and his father was absent until Durant was 13. Durant honed his skills playing AAU basketball in Maryland, and the tragic loss of his mentor, Charles Craig, who was murdered at age 35, led Durant to wear jersey No. 35 as a tribute—a number that would become iconic in its own right.

Durant’s basketball prowess was evident early on. As the second-best high school prospect in 2006, he committed to the University of Texas before his senior year. His lone season as a Longhorn was nothing short of spectacular: he averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, earning both the Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. Texas retired his No. 35 jersey after he led them to the NCAA Tournament and then declared for the NBA Draft.

The Seattle SuperSonics selected Durant second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. He made an immediate impact, averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists as a rookie, which earned him NBA Rookie of the Year honors. The following year, the franchise relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. There, Durant joined forces with Russell Westbrook and James Harden, forming a young, dynamic core that reached four Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals in 2011-12. Though the Thunder lost to the Miami Heat in five games, Durant’s reputation as an elite scorer was cemented.

Durant’s 2013-14 campaign was particularly memorable. He broke Michael Jordan’s record for consecutive games with 25 points or more, stringing together 41 such performances. His averages of 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game earned him the league MVP award. However, persistent playoff disappointments and rumors of a power struggle with Westbrook eventually led Durant to seek a new chapter.

In the summer of 2016, Durant shocked the basketball world by signing with the Golden State Warriors, who had just set the NBA record with a 73-9 season. Teaming up with Stephen Curry, Durant helped the Warriors win back-to-back NBA titles, capturing two NBA Finals MVP awards along the way. But the fairy tale ended in 2019, when a torn Achilles in the Finals sidelined Durant and the Warriors lost to the Toronto Raptors. The injury was a gut punch, but Durant’s resilience shone through.

Durant signed a four-year, $164 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, even knowing he’d miss the entire 2019-20 season recovering from his Achilles injury. When he returned, he didn’t miss a beat, averaging 26.9, 29.9, and 29.7 points per game across three seasons. Despite the star-studded lineup featuring Kyrie Irving and James Harden, the Nets only managed one playoff series win with Durant, prompting his trade to the Phoenix Suns in February 2023. Although the Suns couldn’t break through in the playoffs, Durant remained an All-Star, averaging over 26 points per game.

In another blockbuster move, Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2025-26 season. His arrival injected instant credibility into a young, rebuilding Rockets team, and his scoring prowess has them squarely in the playoff mix. The Rockets are betting big on Durant, who’s under contract through the 2026-27 season, with a player option for 2027-28. For the current season, Durant is earning a whopping $53.3 million from the Rockets alone.

But Durant’s financial empire stretches far beyond his NBA salary. He’s also raking in $26 million annually from Nike, thanks to a lifetime contract he signed in 2023—joining the ultra-exclusive club of Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Other endorsement deals include Gatorade, Degree, Postmates, and Acorns, and Durant’s media production company has inked partnerships with Fox, ESPN, Apple, and Showtime. Through his investment firm, 35 Ventures, Durant has made shrewd business moves, further padding his net worth.

Durant’s career earnings from NBA contracts alone are expected to surpass $500 million by the time his current deal wraps up. Here’s a quick look at his recent and upcoming NBA salaries: $48.1 million in 2023-24, $49.8 million in 2024-25, $53.3 million in 2025-26, $43.9 million in 2026-27, and a player option worth $46.1 million for 2027-28. Those numbers are jaw-dropping, but they only tell part of the story. In 2022 alone, Durant reportedly earned about $85 million from a combination of salary, endorsements, and business ventures.

Durant’s journey from a promising kid in D.C. to an NBA superstar and global business icon is a testament to his relentless work ethic and sharp business sense. According to Celebrity Net Worth, "Durant is worth approximately $300 million." His rise has been steady, with his net worth climbing from $120 million in 2016 to $150 million by 2018, over $170 million in 2019, and reaching the $300 million mark by 2026. His career is a blueprint for athletes looking to leverage their success on the court into generational wealth off it.

As the 2025-26 NBA season unfolds, Durant remains a central figure in the league—not just for his scoring, but for his leadership on a Rockets team eager to make noise in the playoffs. With his place among the NBA’s all-time greats secure and his business empire flourishing, Durant’s legacy grows with every game and every deal. For Rockets fans and basketball lovers everywhere, the excitement is far from over. The legend of Kevin Durant continues to evolve, both on and off the court.