Kevin Durant Enters His 17th NBA Season, Eyes Future Beyond Basketball
As Kevin Durant embarks on his 17th NBA season, the perennial All-Star and two-time champion finds himself at a reflective crossroads. Now 35, the Phoenix Suns forward is not only contemplating his illustrious past but also glancing ahead at what his post-basketball life might entail.
Durant's career, marked by remarkable consistency and staggering achievements, includes three Olympic gold medals and a string of individual honors. Most recently, he notched his fourth gold medal with Team USA, cementing his status as one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic basketball history. Despite this impressive resume, the 35-year-old is acutely aware of the league's ever-evolving nature and the inevitable march of time.
“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 shared candidly. With two more fully guaranteed years left on his contract with the Suns, Durant will not become an unrestricted free agent until 2026, providing at least a few more seasons for fans to appreciate his prowess on the court.
His journey began long before he was selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, a franchise that eventually became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant, who started playing basketball at the tender age of 8, has come a long way since sharing draft class honors with notable names like Al Horford, Mike Conley, and Jeff Green.
A Passion for Phoenix
Since joining the Phoenix Suns, Durant has embraced the city and its fan base. “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,” he shared. With these strong feelings, Durant has expressed a desire to be honored with the franchise's Ring of Honor someday, underscoring his attachment and commitment to the team.
Durant’s bond with the Suns is not merely professional; it’s deeply personal. This mutual appreciation between player and city reflects a broader evolution in Durant’s career, one where he seeks connection and legacy just as ardently as championships.
Contemplating Life After Basketball
However, even as he remains focused on his game, thoughts about life after basketball are impossible to ignore. “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,” Durant admitted. Reflecting on his life dedicated to basketball since age 8, the shift to a post-playing career looms large and uncertain.
And while Durant envisions a future that still involves basketball in some capacity, he acknowledges the unpredictability of what’s to come. “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,” he noted. This pragmatic approach to the unknown illustrates Durant's thoughtful and deliberate nature, characteristics that have no doubt contributed to his lengthy and successful career.
Durant’s journey is far from over, with the upcoming seasons promising more highlights, challenges, and moments of brilliance. Suns fans and the basketball world at large will continue to witness the enduring legacy of a player who has given everything to the game and, in turn, received adulation, respect, and the promise of immortality in the annals of sports history.
For now, as the 17th season tip-off approaches, Kevin Durant remains a pivotal figure in the NBA, ever cognizant of his past, present, and the infinite possibilities of his future.