Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant opened up about how he wants to finish his NBA career during an appearance on The Draymond Green Show.
The 36-year-old emphasized that his priority is to retire on his own terms rather than being forced out of the league. “I want my career to end on my terms. That’s the only thing I’m worried about,” Durant said, via HoopsHype.
He acknowledged that many players don’t get the opportunity to leave the game on their own timeline. To avoid that fate, Durant is committed to maintaining his level of play.
“I want to keep putting in that work to make that choice on my own,” he added. “I don’t want to just hang around just to hang around.”
Durant made it clear that as long as he remains a scoring threat, he’s open to adapting his role. However, he has no interest in being a low-usage veteran playing limited minutes.
“Once you’re not a bucket anymore, you’re just coming off the bench, sitting there saying, ‘Come on, young fella, you can do it,’” he said. “I could come off the bench in a Jamal-type role, but it’s gotta be buckets.”
The two-time NBA champion referenced former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, who extended his career by remaining an elite scorer off the bench.
“If I’m doing that, then that wouldn’t be too bad,” Durant continued. “But I can’t be out there getting seven, eight, ten minutes a night as a stretch four, stretch five. Man, I’d rather go chill.”
Despite his age, Durant remains one of the league’s top offensive players. He is averaging 26.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 36.8 minutes per game this season.
However, the Suns have struggled to translate his production into wins. Phoenix currently holds an 11th-place record of 27-31 in the Western Conference.
The team has lost eight of its last ten games, putting its playoff hopes in jeopardy with just over 20 games remaining in the regular season.
Durant’s comments suggest that he has no immediate plans to walk away from the game. But he is aware that his career’s final chapter will be defined by his ability to remain a high-level scorer.
His future with the Suns is also uncertain as Phoenix has failed to establish itself as a contender despite forming a star trio with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Durant, who has played for four franchises since 2016, is under contract through the 2025-26 season. Whether he finishes his career in Phoenix or elsewhere may depend on the team’s long-term direction.
