The Phoenix Suns have a ton of pressure on them to perform in the 2024 Playoffs because their superstar core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal are expected to be good enough to win it all. However, failure to win an NBA championship this season could raise major question marks, and quite frankly, their future looks very dark considering the entire makeup of their team (third-highest payroll in 2023-24 at $193,728,660) and the outlook of the 2024-25 season.

As Kevin Durant approaches his 36th birthday next season, there’s no denying the undeniable truth: time waits for no athlete, not even one of his caliber. While Durant is still among the top 10 talents in the world, his prime years are undeniably waning. His last championship glory came in 2018 with the Golden State Warriors, and his last MVP award dates back to 2014. As Durant edges closer to the twilight of his career, questions about his longevity and durability become unavoidable.

Adding another layer of complexity to this narrative is Durant’s hefty contract. He is set to earn a staggering $51,179,020 and $54,708,608 over the next two seasons, respectively. By the time his contract expires, he will be over 37 years old—an age where most NBA players have either retired or significantly declined in performance. Such a financial commitment to an aging superstar can severely hamper a franchise’s flexibility in terms of roster development and acquisitions.