Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates.
LOS ANGELES, Aug 7 ― Two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant is poised to sign a four-year, US$198 million (RM835 million) contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets, his manager said today.
Rich Kleiman said the Nets' star would decline a player option for the 2022-23 season, while adding four more years to his contract, which would take him through the 2025-26 season.
The 11-time NBA All-Star is at the Tokyo Olympics, leading the US national team into the gold-medal game against France.
The 33-year-old forward won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
Durant left Golden State after the 2018-19 season and sat out all of the 2019-20 campaign with a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto.
He eventually joined the Nets and played alongside fellow All-Stars James Harden and Kyrie Irving this past season, leading Brooklyn to the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Nets lost the best-of-seven series 4-3 despite Durant scoring 48 points in game seven.
While missing parts of the regular season with a string of injuries, Durant averaged 26.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 35 games.
The extension, which he becomes eligible for after today, is expected to vault Durant past US$500 million in NBA career earnings.
Also in NBA contract news, Kawhi Leonard is expected to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, though the details are still being finalized, Yahoo Sports reported.
Leonard initially declined his player option, worth US$36 million, for next season, but was widely expected to try to negotiate a new deal to remain with the Clippers.
Los Angeles is home for the two-time NBA Finals MVP (2014, 2019) who grew up just east of the city in Riverside. ― AFP