Durant reveals his retirement plan: He will eventually play for the Rockets and will not worry about whether any team will retire his jersey.

Rockets star Durant accepted an exclusive interview with the famous reporter Spears and stated that he plans to retire after fulfilling his last contract with the Rockets. He also revealed that he is no longer obsessed with whether his jersey can be retired by any team he has played for. The following is the full text of Spears' report -

When he returned to his familiar state of Texas in February this year, Kevin Durant customized a pair of size 18 cowboy boots and paired them with a hat, which was a tribute to his time as a star basketball player at the University of Texas.

Now, as a new member of the Rockets—he was traded to the Rockets from the Suns in July—it’s the perfect time to wear this new set of Western-style apparel.

"We were playing against the Spurs, and I bought myself a pair of cowboy boots," Durant said. "I had no idea at the time that I would be traded to Houston, but I just thought, 'I want a pair of cowboy boots and a hat.' And I ordered it. One set is coming soon. But this set took six months to make, so I will definitely be wearing it in Houston."

In the opening game, the Rockets lost to the defending champion Thunder 124-125 in double overtime. Durant contributed 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in this campaign, but left the game with six fouls amid the cheers of the audience.

Thunder guard Alexander scored 35 points and hit a key free throw after Durant's sixth foul, preserving the victory for the Thunder on the night when the championship ring was presented and the championship flag was raised. However, the Thunder's victory could not conceal the dominant performance of Rockets center Shen Jing - he scored 39 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 three-pointers.

Although the Thunder are missing All-Star forward Jaylen Williams, the Rockets' performance is still enough to prove that they have the potential to challenge for the championship. However, Durant hopes to put aside the discussion about the Rockets' championship challenge for the time being.

"I want to say that I'm not thinking about the championship at all now. Brother, this is just the first game. I just want to further stabilize our offensive and defensive system," Durant said. "As the season progresses, we will know more about the strength of this team. But I won't think about the championship now. Or the playoffs, now it's about Game 2 and how we can get better."

Durant was a central figure in a 13-player, seven-team trade on July 13, the largest deal in NBA history. In the 2024-25 season, his second and final season with the Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points per game. But the Suns team he formed with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal not only failed to enter the playoffs, but were swept in the first round the previous season. The Suns even considered trading Durant during last year's trade deadline.

Looking back on his time with the Suns, Durant said he has no grudges against the Suns.

"I wouldn't say that experience was a challenge. I was playing in the NBA," Durant said. "I was still in good physical condition and was able to continue to polish my skills and give my best in the game. I won't look at that experience in a negative light. I'm happy to play in the NBA at any time. I loved playing in Phoenix and thought I would retire there. Now I also love playing in the NBA. "So, I can draw positive things from every experience. And since entering the league, the positive experiences have been much more than the negative ones."

The Rockets are Durant's fifth NBA team. He previously played for the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns. For joining the Rockets, head coach Uduka is one of the important attractions-the two have previously worked together in the US men's basketball team.

Other factors that attract Durant include: being able to play alongside Shen Jing, veteran point guard VanVleet, potential rising star wing Thompson, and former Thunder teammate Adams. The Rockets ranked second in the Western Conference last season, and it is generally believed that with the addition of Durant, they will immediately become a strong contender for the championship. In addition, as a basketball history enthusiast, Durant is also proud to wear the same Rockets jersey as Hall of Fame members such as Olajuwon, Drexler, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Calvin Murphy and Elvin Hayes.

"It's incredible. Some of my favorite players of all time have played for the Rockets and they laid the foundation for the Rockets and helped build the brand," Durant said. "It means a lot to be a part of that."

However, VanVleet's season may well be over before it even begins - he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the team's offseason workouts in the Bahamas. The 37-year-old Durant said he was "very frustrated" when he heard the news. In the opening game, the impact of VanVleet's absence was obvious: Durant only took 16 shots, and the Rockets committed 21 turnovers. At the end of overtime, because Thompson left the game early due to cramps, the team was trapped in the dilemma of lacking a court commander.

"He (VanVleet) was very excited to join this team," Durant said of VanVleet. "He even accepted a salary cut to stay on the team. He is a veteran of the team and a leader in the locker room. He should have had many opportunities to show off his skills and get a wider offensive space. This is very difficult for Freddy, but he Very tenacious and a mature man. He said, 'Don't feel sorry for me, I will come to training every day and I will recover soon.'"

"This is his mentality. He must continue to train."

However, there is also a positive signal for Durant and the Rockets-Shen Jing's outstanding performance..

Durant is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, averaging 27.2 points per game in his career. But with the 23-year-old Shen Jing showing dominance in the low post and now adding a three-point shooting skill package, becoming more threatening, Durant no longer needs to shoulder the Rockets' offensive burden alone. Partnering with a player with excellent offensive ability like Shen Jing can also give Durant easier offensive opportunities.

Durant said that the defensive pressure he and Shen Jing attract on the offensive end will also create more opportunities for his teammates.

"He (Shen Kyung) performed so well against the Thunder. The more he plays like this, the easier it is for everyone, especially me," Durant said. "I think this year he will take a key step towards the goal of becoming a star or even a superstar."

"Although he didn't say it explicitly, from his attitude towards the game, and his Judging from all the performances on the court, you can clearly feel that he is ready to take this step and make himself better. This game is a positive start on the offensive end, and I really hope we can win this game for him."

Durant signed a two-year $90 million contract extension with the Rockets, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. The 15-time NBA All-Star was originally eligible for a two-year contract extension with a maximum salary of $120 million, but he voluntarily gave up about $30 million in order to retain more team-building flexibility for the team while "keeping the team intact."

Based on current and future salary calculations, Durant's total career income has reached US$598.2 million, surpassing LeBron James and becoming the player with the highest career income in NBA history.

Durant's current contract will last until the 2027-28 season, when he will be 40 years old. The two-time NBA champion said he expects to retire after playing out the final term of his contract in Houston.

"This is the last team I want to play for in my career. Now I just try to focus on every day in front of me, don't think about the distant future, and just let nature take its course," Durant said.

In 2014, Durant won the only regular season MVP trophy in his career with the Thunder, and in 2012 he led the team to the Finals for the first time. He said that despite hearing boos from Oklahoma City fans when he holds the ball in games, he can still feel the love from the fans on the streets off the court and in the arena.

Whether Durant can help the Rockets win the third NBA championship trophy in team history still needs time to verify. He was twice elected Finals MVP with the Warriors, and the Warriors are likely to retire his jersey in the future. If he can lead the Rockets to a championship, his jersey may also be retired in Houston.

The Thunder raised the first championship flag in team history, and the audience was shocked. However, Durant said that he is not obsessed with whether his jersey can be retired by any team he has played for.

"I used to really care about being recognized and respected by people," he said, "but now I feel that none of this is important. People's hearts are fickle, and people's opinions of you will change with their emotional ups and downs. No matter what, I no longer expect anyone to do anything for me. I just need to do my job and wait and see."