Former Net Durant Tops NBA All-Time Career Earnings List

Kevin Durant has earned the most money in NBA history through the 2028-29 season at $591.1 million, and the Brooklyn Nets played a significant role in helping him achieve such an accolade.

Durant signed two four-year maximum contract extensions worth over $150 million in his career, and both came from Brooklyn.

The Nets gave the 37-year-old a four-year, $164.2 million contract in a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 offseason, averaging $41 million per season. Durant said he wanted to be in a new environment despite back-to-back championship runs and Finals MVPs in three seasons with the Warriors.

A torn right Achilles heel sustained in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors led to him missing his first season in Brooklyn. The team still committed to signing one of the best players in the league despite suffering a career-altering injury.

Durant returned in the 2020-21 season as a more methodical scorer than before. His hesitation pull-up three and one-dribble mid-range shot became his signature go-to moves and defenders couldn’t defend his high release point at 6-foot-11.

He went on to average 28.8 points over three seasons in Brooklyn.

The Nets had three elite offensive engines in Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Their skill sets complimented each other perfectly, and Durant believed it was the best team he played on, but injuries prevented the trio from reaching their peak.

The 16-time All-Star signed a four-year, $194.2 million maximum contract extension in 2022, averaging $48.5 million. It brought his total earnings to $358.4 million, accounting for 60% of what he’s made throughout his career.

Durant has been traded twice since signing those massive extensions: the Phoenix Suns at the 2023 trade deadline and the Houston Rockets in the 2025 offseason.

Houston acquired the 18-year veteran in the last year of his previous deal, for which he earned $54 million. He extended for two more seasons at $90 million last October, taking a pay cut to give the Rockets additional flexibility to add talent.

Durant will remain at the top of the list for the time being until another superstar surpasses him as extensions become larger and larger. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million supermax extension last July, averaging $71.25 million per year.

Brooklyn is part of NBA history despite not being a successful franchise, landing a superstar in Durant and helping him become the current highest-paid player through the 2028-29 season.