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Shams Charania, ESPN
From the primary day of buying the Phoenix Suns at a valuation of $4 billion in February 2023, proprietor Mat Ishbia accomplished a blockbuster transaction for Kevin Durantpairing future Corridor of Famer and two-time NBA Finals MVP with franchise cornerstone Devin Booker.
As everybody in Phoenix prepares collectively for a 3rd straight playoff run, Ishbia instructed ESPN this week that he absolutely expects to signal Durant to a contract extension subsequent offseason and needs the 14-time All- Star retires as Solar.
“[Durant] “I really like being in Phoenix, we love having it,” Ishbia instructed ESPN. “He is had an unimaginable begin to the season – one of many MVP leaders – and we’re off to an incredible begin. We count on Kevin to signal an extension and be with us for the long run. We hope he’ll end his profession right here in Phoenix.
“You may’t signal a two-year extension final summer time, you’ll be able to’t do it based mostly on NBA guidelines. So we thought after the season we might speak about it and care for it.
“Kevin needs to be right here, we would like Kevin to be right here. There’s by no means been one completely different criticism.”
Durant and the Suns bypassed a one-year, $60 million contract extension earlier than the common season, shifting focus to the 2024-25 marketing campaign and permitting groups to pursue a two-year most $120 million extension years subsequent summer time. Durant is presently below contract for the 2025-26 season.
Durant, 36, is taken into account one of many NBA’s biggest gamers with accolades that embody two NBA championships, 4 Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball and a end within the league’s Prime 75.
Durant began the season on an MVP-caliber run in his 18th season – averaging 27.6 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3 % taking pictures, 42.9 % from 3-point vary and main the Suns to an 8-1 begin.
Durant has been out since Nov. 8 with a calf pressure. The Suns went 1-5 in his absence.
As proprietor of the Suns, Ishbia has been aggressive in his roster reorganization. He was a three-time All-Star Bradley Beal of the Wizards of Washington through the 2023 offseason, traded Deandre Ayton in an settlement for Jusuf Nurkic and, above all, exceed the NBA wage cap, luxurious tax and second apron limits. The Suns employed two-time Coach of the Yr Mike Budenholzer in Might.
Off the court docket, Ishbia accomplished a number of renovations to the Suns’ amenities, constructed a $100 million apply constructing for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and introduced Wednesday that it had invested $20 million to open a brand new membership, “The Ra Ra Room”, within the Arène des Soleils.
