There were whispers about Kevin Durant wanting to ditch the Phoenix Suns, which, as a second-apron team, don’t have any room to wiggle. At 36, the time to compete for championships grows narrower for the Slim Reaper. But he has a strong affinity for the city and the team. According to CEO Josh Bartelstein, Durant is content with the organizational plans and their future project and this sense of belonging could see him extend his future with the franchise.

Currently, the four-time Olympic gold medalist has two years left on his $194 million extension with the Brooklyn Nets, signed in 2021. If he truly feels confident in the Suns’ plans, he could sign a one-year extension this offseason. This short extension is due to the Over 38 rule, which limits contracts to a maximum of three years once a player reaches that age.

If he opts for a contract extension now, he could sign for up to one year at $59.7 million, keeping him with the Phoenix Suns till the 2026-27 season, when he will be 38. Although Durant is approaching the end of his career, his performance remains excellent. Last season, he averaged 27.3 points per game over 75 games. This is the most he’s played in since the 2018-19 season. Furthermore, he has developed a great rapport with Suns star Devin Booker, who was also his teammate during the recent Paris Olympics.

Everything suggests that Durant will extend his contract. “I think everyone’s head’s in the right place. He loves it here. We talk to Rich Kleiman, who’s his partner, all the time about the vision and what we’re building, and everyone’s really happy, and I think we’re gonna have a really really good year” Bartelstein claimed on the PHNX Suns Podcast.

But has Kevin Durant ever indicated his admiration for the Suns?

Kevin Durant has accommodated well to the city

When trade rumors grew rampant, Matt Ishbia, the newest owner had to step in to dim the noise. “Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it” he wrote in a tweet during draft night.

But it wasn’t so easy for Durant to get accustomed to the Phoenix rhythm. When talking to Kay Adams in June, Durant revealed the transition from Brooklyn to Phoenix posed several challenges. But now that he has spent two years in the city, life around him has started to fall into place.

“Yeah, I’m happy to be alive… It was a tough transition moving from New York, a fast-paced city and lifestyle to the slowed-down pace in Phoenix but I feel like I’ve got my rhythm mid-way through the season. Basketball is the easy part, you can figure that out… I feel comfortable in Phoenix now” he told Adams.

Guessing is the worst mistake one can make in sports. Yet, all factors point toward KD not only enjoying life in Phoenix but also feeling accepted within the Suns organization. He and Booker have grown tremendously close too, recently spending the vacation together. Maybe this could be the last franchise the Slim Reaper plays for.

Do you think he is committed to the Suns? Let us know your views in the comments below.