Kevin Durant will reportedly sign four-year, $198 million extension to stay with Nets
Kevin Durant likes what he's seen during his brief time with the Brooklyn Nets. Durant will reportedly sign a four-year, $198 million extension with the club Friday, according to his longtime manager Rich Kleiman.
Durant, 32, originally signed a four-year, $164 million deal with the club prior to the 2019-20 NBA season. He sat out the first year of that contract while recovering from a torn Achilles.
Durant returned to the court during the 2020-21 season, and looked like he had not lost a step. Durant averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists in his first season with the Nets. That performance earned Durant yet another trip to the All-Star Game.
Under his previous deal, Durant had a player option for the 2022-23 NBA season. Durant will decline that option as a result of the new deal, which will add four years to Durant's contract starting in 2022.
Kevin Durant looking to lead Brooklyn to a championship
Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving combined to lead the Nets to a 48-24 record. Despite spotty health from all three players, the team still wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Those health issues popped up again in the playoffs. Harden and Irving missed crucial games in the postseason, leading to Durant putting the team on his back. Durant nearly pushed the Nets to the Eastern Conference finals, taking the Milwaukee Bucks to a Game 7 in the semifinals, but fell short despite scoring 48 points in the final game of the series.
Health could be the only thing holding the team back. If the team's key players can avoid major injuries next season, the Nets could give the Bucks another strong series in the playoffs. With better luck, Durant still has a chance to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy a few more times before he hangs up his sneakers.
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