What Happened to Kevin Wayne Durant?

Kevin Durant's career continues to evolve, marked by significant on-court transitions and increasingly impactful off-court ventures. After a period with the Phoenix Suns that ultimately fell short of championship aspirations, Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets in a record-breaking seven-team deal in July 2025. The Suns, seeking to restructure their roster after two disappointing seasons with their 'superteam' experiment, moved Durant in exchange for players like Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with draft picks. Durant's departure from Phoenix was reportedly vocal, with the Suns also insistent it was time to move on, as he wasn't the player they traded for, and the team wasn't as close to contending as he preferred.

Upon joining the Rockets, Durant quickly committed to the franchise's future, signing a two-year, $90 million contract extension in October 2025, with a player option for the 2027-28 season. This move, which saw him leave over $30 million on the table compared to a potential maximum extension, demonstrated his belief in the young Houston core and provided the team with financial flexibility. In his first season with the Rockets (2025-26), Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 78 games, continuing to perform at an elite level. His presence significantly boosted the Rockets' offense, improving their field goal and three-point percentages, and making the game easier for young talents like Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson, despite the team finishing with a similar 52-30 record as the previous season and a first-round playoff exit where Durant missed most of the series.

Beyond basketball, Durant's business acumen has flourished through his investment firm, Thirty Five Ventures (35V), co-founded with Rich Kleiman. This firm has made early-stage bets in various sectors, including tech, fintech, AI, and media, with investments in companies like Coinbase, Postmates, and Robinhood. A major turning point in his off-court success came in August 2026 when it was reported that Durant's early investment in the AI company Hugging Face yielded a massive return. He reportedly invested $250,000 across seed and Series A funding rounds, and with Nvidia's reported acquisition of Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, his stake is estimated to have generated over $60 million in returns. This single investment surpassed his projected $43.9 million NBA salary for the 2026-27 season, highlighting his growing influence as a business mogul.

As of September 2, 2026, Kevin Durant remains a cornerstone player for the Houston Rockets, preparing for the 2026-27 NBA season under a contract that extends through 2027-28. His on-court excellence continues to be a driving force for his team, while his strategic off-court investments, particularly the recent Hugging Face success, underscore his remarkable transition from solely a basketball superstar to a global sports and business magnate.