Durant shrugs off minutes talk, sets aside contract questions at Rockets media day

Kevin Durant says he wants to stay on the floor and isn't dwelling on his player option as he enters his 20th NBA season with Houston.

Kevin Durant spoke at Houston Rockets media day on Tuesday and made clear he has no interest in a reduced role. When told that general manager Rafael Stone and coach Ime Udoka would like to lower his minutes this season, Durant asked "Why?" and argued he and the team are better with him on the court.

Durant, who turns 38 next week, is entering his 20th NBA season. He averaged 26 points per game last season while shooting 41.3% from three and logged the second-most minutes in the league, behind only teammate Amen Thompson. He started 78 regular-season games but appeared in just one of Houston's six playoff games, injuries he attributed to a stepped-on ankle and a collision with a teammate's knee rather than accumulated wear.

The forward also deflected questions about his future. He holds a player option worth $46 million for the 2027-28 season but said he is taking things day by day. Stone said the plan is to sit down with Durant after the season, as the two did a year ago, and expressed confidence the veteran is happy in Houston.

Durant ranks fifth on the NBA's all-time scoring list and is positioned to pass Kobe Bryant for fourth this season. New teammates Bruce Thornton and Marcus Smart both described the experience of playing alongside him, with Smart signing a two-year deal in the offseason after years of facing Durant as an opponent.