Famous reporter: Durant signs a 2-year contract with the Rockets for 118 million yuan. If the contract is not renewed, he will become a free agent next summer

July 26th ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps and salary expert Bobby Marks jointly wrote an article about the situation of restricted free agents such as Kumingga and the topic of early renewal of big-name stars, including Rockets new player Durant. The original text is as follows:

Doncic's situation is worth paying attention to, but he is not the only big-name star facing an early renewal this summer.

The biggest star involved in early contract renewal is Durant, who was traded to the Rockets last month after two and a half years of playing with the Suns. Durant can sign a two-year maximum salary renewal with a total of $118 million. If Durant does not agree to renew his contract early, he can become a full free agent next summer like Doncic (provided that Doncic does not renew his contract early and jump out of the contract next year's offseason).

Durant has one year left in his existing contract, with a salary of approximately $54.71 million in the 2025-26 season. Durant will turn 37 in September this year.

In the 2024-25 season, 36-year-old Durant played 62 regular season games for the Suns, averaging 36.5 minutes per game, able to score 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 52.7%, a three-point shooting percentage of 43.0%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 83.9%.