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Shams Charania, ESPNNov 20, 2024, 12:27 AM ET
On the very first day of purchasing the Phoenix Suns for a valuation of $4 billion in February 2023, owner Mat Ishbia made a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, pairing the future Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Finals MVP with franchise cornerstone Devin Booker.
As everyone in Phoenix hones in on a third consecutive postseason together, Ishbia told ESPN this week that he fully expects to sign Durant to a contract extension next offseason and wants the 14-time All-Star to retire as a Sun.
“(Durant) loves being in Phoenix, we love having him,” Ishbia told ESPN. “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.
“Kevin wants to be here, we want Kevin here. There’s never been one grumbling of anything different.”
Durant and the Suns bypassed a one-year, $60 million contract extension prior to the regular season, placing the focus on the 2024-25 campaign and allowing for the sides to pursue a two-year, $120 million maximum extension next summer. Durant is currently under contract through the 2025-26 season.
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Durant, 36, is regarded among the NBA’s greatest players with accolades such as two NBA championships, four Olympic Gold Medals with USA Basketball and a spot on the the league’s Top 75 list.
Durant started the season on an MVP-caliber track at the age of 36 in his 18th season — averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3 percent shooting, 42.9 percent from 3-point range and leading the Suns to an 8-1 start.
Durant has been sidelined since Nov. 8 due to a calf strain. The Suns have gone 1-5 in his absence.
As owner of the Suns, Ishbia has been aggressive in his retooling of the roster: acquiring three-time All-Star Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards in the 2023 offseason, trading Deandre Ayton in a deal for Jusuf Nurkic and, above all, bursting through the NBA’s salary cap, luxury tax and second apron limits.
Off the court, Ishbia has completed multiple renovations for the Suns’ facility, built a $100 million practice building for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and on Wednesday announced he has invested $20 million to open a new club, “The Ra Ra Room,” in the Suns arena.
