Kevin Durant (L) and Steven Adams as team-mates at Oklahoma City Thunder. Photo: AFP
The Houston Rockets are acquiring 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant, who will rejoin his former team-mate Steven Adams following the New Zealander's recent contract extension.
Durant has joined from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks, ESPN reported on Monday.
The trade can be completed when the new league year begins on July 6. At that point, Durant will be eligible to sign a two-year extension worth up to $US122 million ($NZ204 million).
Durant has one season left on his current deal and is set to earn $US54.7 million in 2025-26.
Durant will join a Rockets team that finished the regular season as the second seed in the Western Conference. The star forward will join All-Star Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet in Houston.
Reunited with Adams
Also on board is veteran centre Adams, who last week signed a contract extension after enjoying an impressive debut season with the Rockets.
Steven Adams Photo: Supplied: Eleven PR
Adams and Durant were team-mates when the big Kiwi broke into the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder and they played three seasons together before Durant made a key career switch to the Golden State Warriors.
Durant, who turns 37 in September, played in 62 games with the Suns in 2024-25. He averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocks, not far off of his career averages. He also shot 43.0 percent from 3-point range.
Selected to the All-NBA first team six times, Durant has appeared in 1,123 games with the Seattle SuperSonics/Thunder (2007-16), Warriors (2016-19), Brooklyn Nets (2020-23) and Suns. He has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds. 4.4 assists and 1.1 blocks, shooting 39 percent from long distance.
- Reuters/RNZ
