22 seasons. 17 seasons. 16 seasons. These numbers belong to three NBA legends—LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. The cornerstones of Adam Silver’s NBA vision. But let’s face it, the end is creeping in. They’ve done it all—championships, Olympic golds, and more. Retirement is not here yet, but it’s coming. Maybe not this year. Maybe not next. But soon. And KD may have some plans for the same.

But before that, let’s talk about the fabled work-life balance. It’s the main talk these days; juggling between personal and professional lives, and managing a business, that is if any. And we know who are the best at this in the league. Yes, LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The billionaire athlete and the multi-millionaire Baby-Faced Assassin. But in the case of the Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant, he has one thing less to worry about and that is family. Speaking on the NBA OGs Uncut, the 36-year-old power forward gave an emotional confession.

He said (6:50 mins): “Years of just hearing these guys talk, and Bron talk coming up. And he’s always emphasized keeping the main thing, the main thing. You see how much balance,  these guys have with their lives.” Let’s go one at a time. LeBron James has several businesses, endorsements, and the NBA action for the Lakers. He’s also giving his time to his James Gang. On the other hand, Steph is doing the same and maintaining his fire for the Warriors. But for KD…“I don’t have kids and family and a wife,” the 14x NBA All-Star commented.

Back in 2021, Durant told Draymond Green that having kids and starting a family is a huge commitment. “I always felt that I was really zoned into my work. Eventually, I do want that. But the older I get, it feels better. I get to know myself more, understand my situation a little bit more,” Durant shared. So, KD does have some plans, but not precisely around having a family. Well, he’s just in a loving relationship with basketball and wants to keep things that way.

But wait, what if we told you that there are some hints, that the 2x NBA champ might be mulling about retirement? Steph and Bron’s timeline in the league might shape this. Kevin Durant stays dedicated to the sport, but the end looms closer, and it’s not just about him.

Kevin Durant’s subtle foreshadowing on retirement plans

We always talk about the “Big Threes” in every sport or any other industry, movies, anime, and politics. You name it and there you’ll find a big three. Similarly, the NBA has its own Big 3: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. All these players have reshaped the league in their ways and dear lord, it’s been quite a journey for the last two decades.  Now coming back to the NBA OGs conversation, Kevin Durant commended his peers for maintaining their family life, work life, and their love for the game after all these years.

“These guys, we are all businessmen. We all doing things off the floor,” Durant shared. “But to still get up, to go to the gym at 6 am, to still want to put up 1000 shots every day.” KD added: “To still love the game the way you love it, with all the distractions that are being thrown at you. The high expectations from everybody around you. But to keep that joy and love for the game first is something that I admire. And that’s what’s keeping me going, keeping all of us going.”

Well, it looks like LeBron James and Stephen Curry’s work ethics and dedication to training and refining themselves inspires Kevin. However, if you deeply think about his last statement which talks about how his two teammates keep him going, you might feel a slight tinge of something untold. It could be a slight nod to retirement. Maybe, we’ll not see the same old Kevin Durant once Bron and Curry hang their boots. But, well, KD could do it before them. But most importantly, the brotherhood these hoopsters share is something worth learning from.

They are the biggest rivals on the court. You’ll see them trash-talking each other during the games, and there’s heat, of course. But off the floor, it’s pure camaraderie that comes from their love for basketball. And well, it might be a bitter truth that they are in the twilight of their glorious careers. It’s hard to imagine the NBA with the iconic Durant-James-Curry trio in action.