Kevin Durant is such a stand-up guy!

Ahead of the new season, the Rockets received good news: Durant agreed to a two-year, $90 million early extension, with the second year (2027-28 season) as a player option.

Counting the new extension, Durant’s total career salary will reach $598.2 million, overtaking LeBron James ($583.9 million) as the NBA’s all-time highest earner.

Durant’s agent, Rich Kleiman, stated: “Durant was eligible for a two-year, $120 million max contract, but he understood that by choosing the Rockets as his trade destination, he needed to sacrifice some money on the new deal — roughly $30 million — so both sides could work together long-term and provide the team with financial flexibility.”

The most immediate impact is:

Durant’s pay cut has given the Rockets significant salary cap flexibility.

The team’s total payroll for the upcoming season is expected to be under the second luxury tax threshold of $80 million.

This flexibility allows the Rockets to retain Jalen Green and make targeted moves in free agency while staying below the luxury tax line.

News of Green’s contract extension will be coming soon.

When I saw the news about Durant’s extension, my first thought was: this guy is really generous.

That’s right; considering income, Texas is one of the few states in the US without state income tax, meaning Durant’s earnings here are not subject to state tax. (Players only avoid state tax for home games; the 41 away games are still taxed at local rates.)

But we have to think about it this way: if Durant insists on a two-year, $110 million deal, the Rockets would have to pay it, right?

The best examples are in Philadelphia, where George’s salary for the next three seasons will exceed $50 million annually; the Warriors’ Butler also earns $50 million per year for the next two seasons, and Towns will make $61 million in the 27-28 season...

Can they claim to be better than Durant based on ability?

I’m not saying we must take sides or bring morality into this. Watching the NBA for years, you’ll see many players verbally pledge loyalty, but when it comes to salary, many refuse to give an inch.

Players need to support their families, and we must understand that.

But Durant has not only shown loyalty to the Rockets for the long haul; more importantly, look at what he has done:

That’s a real financial sacrifice.

Although he is now the highest career earner, if you know Durant’s background, you’ll admire him even more.

His mother Wanda’s ledger shows that young Durant once walked 12 kilometers to attend a tryout to save $2 on bus fare.

He started playing basketball in the tough neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., growing up with just his mother and never experiencing a father’s warmth.

Someone who grew up poor should value money highly.

So my understanding is that Durant genuinely treats basketball as his passion and pursuit.

People often joke about him being a "keyboard warrior" or criticize him for "drinking bathwater," but his choices show he truly appreciates basketball.

His love for the game is pure, without any distractions.

If he weren’t at this level, having won championships and MVPs, would he agree to take less money? That’s unlikely.

Especially near the end of a career, many veterans aim to maximize earnings to secure their post-retirement life.

Does his pay cut guarantee a championship for the Rockets? Not necessarily.

Besides, he’s new to the team; is he really close with the Rockets, teammates, or coaches?

Probably not...

Many say they love basketball verbally.

But Durant is the kind of player who still loves the game when the lights go out and the crowd leaves.

Old Durant often likes to argue online and sometimes forgets to switch to his alternate account.

But after years, you realize he truly embodies Yao Ming’s advice to Yang Hansen:

“Spend time with those who genuinely care about you, take every task seriously, and most importantly, take yourself seriously—make seriousness a habit.”

As we all grow older, I believe more people will come to understand the charm this player carries.

Durant is truly genuine.