Kevin Wayne Durant is a prominent personality in American professional basketball. Durant currently exhibits his amazing talents as a key player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is revered by fans and peers alike as one of the greatest NBA players in history. As the curtains rise on 2024, the spotlight once again shines on this basketball prodigy, not only for his on-court achievements, but also for the incredible money he has earned over time.
Net Worth
Durant’s net worth is projected to be around $300 million, according to several publications.
Durant is currently playing for the Phoenix Suns after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023, which made headlines. Durant is expected to earn $46.4 million during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Durant claimed a spot among the top 10 highest-paid athletes in 2023, earning a whopping $89.1 million. According to Forbes, Durant earns an astonishing $50 million per year just from endorsements.
Journey to stardom.
Durant, who was born on September 29, 1988, in Suitland, Maryland, sharpened his abilities on Seat Pleasant’s basketball courts, where his passion for the game was evident from a young age. His tremendous talent was evident early on, capturing the attention of both scouts and coaches.
Durant, who had a fantastic high school career, went on to attend the University of Texas. His stint with the Texas Longhorns further demonstrated his abilities, earning him multiple awards.
NBA domination
Durant entered the NBA Draft in 2007, and the Seattle SuperSonics selected him with the second overall choice. The Sonics signed him to a four-year contract worth $19.5 million.
Fast forward to 2021, Durant signed a four-year deal extension with the Brooklyn Nets worth $194.22 million, which translates to an average annual salary of more than $48 million. Durant became the NBA’s highest-paid small forward as a result of this landmark deal. Durant’s stay with the Nets did not go as planned, and he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2023.
Profitable partnerships
Durant’s off-court earnings as a 13-time All-Star have risen to more than $40 million a year, thanks to recent endorsement deals with well-known firms like Coinbase, NBA Top Shot, and Weedmaps. Durant’s significant endorsements and agreements include those with Alaska Air Group, Google, NBA 2K, and Nike.
Durant and Nike signed a lifetime contract, making him only the third NBA star to do so, behind Michael Jordan and LeBron James. The entire agreement includes footwear, apparel, and a collaborative charity initiative geared at promoting grassroots basketball. Furthermore, Durant’s contract with Nike includes a substantial $50 million retirement package, demonstrating the long-term nature of their relationship.
Durant and Nike have collaborated since 2007, releasing an incredible 15 different shoe versions. The 13-time All-Star has even hinted at the impending release of a 16th pair, cementing his status as a key player in the world of sports endorsements and branding.
Off-court ventures
Durant’s entrepreneurial skills extend far beyond the basketball court, as evidenced by his organization, Thirty Five Ventures (35V), which has invested in over 80 firms. Durant is the mastermind of the media brand Boardroom and produced the Oscar-winning film “Two Distant Strangers” in 2021. Durant’s 35V has strategically invested in a variety of ventures, including Yoshi, Rubrik, and Whoop, among others.
One of Durant’s most notable investments was in Postmates, which proved extremely profitable following Uber’s acquisition of the food-delivery firm, earning him a cool $15 million.
In addition to his business interests, Durant has dabbled in sports ownership, purchasing minority stakes in the MLS Philadelphia Union and the NWSL’s NJ/NY Gotham FC. Durant also moved into professional pickleball team ownership with 35V in 2022.
Durant’s media ventures include Just Women’s Sports, an American media platform focused on women’s sports in which he invests through 35V.