ĭurant’s Year 2 in Golden State would have come with a $31.5 million salary. He’s elected to opt out, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. UPDATE: Durant will not be doing this in the end. Kevin Durant should have never played in Game 5 It’s too easy to forget Kevin Durant is a superstar, not a superhero This is Kevin Durant’s legacy 1. His contract included a player option in Year 2, which gave him flexibility to either leave Golden State in free agency, or re-sign at the max and create a Warriors dynasty for years to come.īut no one could have anticipated a ruptured Achilles coming. Last summer, Durant signed a two-year deal to return to the Warriors in hopes of three-peating as NBA champions. He’ll turn 31 before the start of next season, so this is likely the last big long-term contract the Warriors’ star will receive.
That's what happens when you’re a master at your craft.ĭurant’s ruptured Achilles tendon may have thrown a wrench in his (and the league’s) plans, but at the bare minimum, the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors are still expected to offer him a maximum contract extension, ranging anywhere from $164 million to $221 million.ĭurant’s free agency is important.
He’s also a free agent, yet somehow, teams will likely pay him full value even if he misses all of next season. He might be the best basketball player in the world, but he also just suffered the most devastating injury in basketball. Kevin Durant just might be in the most unprecedented situation in NBA history.