On the very first day he purchased the Phoenix Suns for a $4 billion valuation in February 2023, owner Mat Ishbia made a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, pairing the future Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Finals MVP with franchise cornerstone Devin Booker .

While everyone in Phoenix is ​​heading into a third consecutive postseason together, Ishbia told ESPN this week that he fully expects to sign Durant to a contract extension next season and that he wants the 14-time All-Star to retire as Sun.

“(Durant) loves being in Phoenix, we love having him,” Ishbia told ESPN. “He’s off to a great start this season – one of the MVP leaders – and we’re off to a very good start. We expect Kevin to sign an extension and stay with us for the long term. We hope he finishes his career here Phoenix.

“You can’t sign a two-year extension last summer, you can’t do it based on NBA rules. So we thought we’d talk about it after the season and take care of it.”

“Kevin wants to be here, we want Kevin here. There was never anything else grumbled about.’

Durant and the Suns bypassed a one-year, $60 million contract extension before the regular season, putting the focus on the 2024-25 season and allowing the teams to pursue a two-year contract extension worth up to $120 million next summer. Durant is currently under contract through the 2025-2026 season.

Durant, 36, is considered one of the NBA’s best players with accolades that include two NBA championships, four Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball and a spot on the league’s Top 75 list.

He started the season on an MVP-caliber circuit in his 18th season – averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3% shooting, 42.9% from 3-point range and leading the Suns to an 8-1 start.

Durant has been sidelined since November 8 due to a calf injury. The Suns have gone 1-5 in his absence.

As owner of the Suns, Ishbia has been aggressive in reshaping the roster. He acquired three-time All-Star Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards in the 2023 offseason, traded Deandre Ayton in a deal for Jusuf Nurkic and, most importantly, breached the NBA’s salary cap, luxury tax and second-apron limits. The Suns hired two-time Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer in May.

Off the field, Ishbia has completed multiple renovations to the Suns facility, built a $100 million practice building for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and announced Wednesday that he has invested $20 million to open a new club, “The Ra Ra Room”, in the Sun arena.