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  Michael C. WrightDec 5, 2025, 08:38 PM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2010
  • Previously covered Bears for ESPN.com
  • Played college football at West Texas A&M

HOUSTON — Rockets star Kevin Durant drilled a 10-foot jumper with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter Friday against the Phoenix Suns to become the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points.

Entering the matchup against his former team, Durant needed four points to hit the 31,000-point milestone. He got there with a pair of free throws and the mid-range jumper on his third attempt of the night.

Just two nights before, Durant lamented missing out on the opportunity join the company of 31,000-point scorers Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron during a 121-95 win over the Sacramento Kings. Needing 28 points in that contest to reach the milestone, Durant played 32 minutes but sat out the majority of the fourth quarter and finished with 8 assists, 3 rebounds and a block to go with his 24 points.

“Damn, I could have [done] that tonight,” Durant quipped after Wednesday’s win when informed of how close he was to reaching 31,000 career points. Durant then expressed appreciation for his latest accomplishment when asked whether career milestones still move him at this stage of what will be a Hall of Fame career.

“Yeah, they do. Hell yeah,” Durant said. “I mean, eight players in the history of the game, that’s insane.”

Durant remains at eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list behind James, Abdul-Jabbar, Malone, Bryant, Jordan, Nowitzki and Chamberlain. If the 15-time NBA All-Star remains healthy, it’s likely he’ll pass Chamberlain (31,419 points) and Nowitzki (31,560) this season on the all-time scoring list and perhaps even Jordan (32,292).

“I’m always grateful for all my coaches, teammates, guys that set screens for me, that give up their shots to look for me, that [have] encouraged me throughout my entire career,” Durant said. “I had a few teammates, playing with Russ [Westbrook], he meant a lot in my career when it comes to that. Steven [Adams] meant a lot in my career. Jeff Green. So, every time I hit these milestones I tend to think about my teammates and the journey I’ve been through. Even as a kid, so many people invested in my life, in my career and wanted to see me do well. So, I owe a lot to them. I always think about that when I hit milestones like this.”

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The Phoenix Suns hit the reset button this offseason and sent 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in an NBA-record seven-team deal.

The Suns have turned the page from the Durant era and enjoyed surprising success over the first month and change of the 2025-26 campaign, but they ran into their old centerpiece again Friday night in Houston.

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And with a 10-foot jumper in the first quarter of a 117-98 win, the 37-year-old reached the latest milestone of his illustrious, 19-year career. Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion, needed just four points to become the eighth player in league history to score 31,000 career points.

That’s rare air also inhabited by LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain.

Granted that’s the same group Durant accompanied when he cleared the 30,000-point threshold in February last season, but that list of names remains incredibly impressive.

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It’s not out of the question Durant passes Jordan’s mark of 32,292 career points sometime this season. He’ll need to stay healthy, but if he accomplishes that feat, he’ll move up to fifth on the leaderboard, first jumping Chamberlain (31,419) and Nowitzki (31,560).

James, in his NBA-record 23rd season at 40 years old, leads the pack, and it’s not particularly close. He’s got 42,268 points to his name, 3,881 more than Abdul-Jabbar, who is second all-time.

Durant came into the Friday night matchup averaging 25 points per game in his first season with the Rockets while shooting 49.3% from the field, including 37% from beyond the arc.

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Through his first 17 games with the team, he had finished with 20 or more points 14 times, reaching or eclipsing the 30-point barrier on six occasions.

He’s thriving after signing a two-year extension with Houston reportedly worth $90 million this offseason. The Rockets could very well be the fifth and final franchise the two-time NBA champion and one-time league MVP suits up for in a prolific pro career that started in 2007.

Durant scored the bulk of his points with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were the Seattle SuperSonics when he was drafted No. 2 overall out of Texas.

He won a pair of rings with the Golden State Warriors. Since, he’s starred for the Brooklyn Nets, Suns and now the Rockets.

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Although the success of Durant’s teams has ebbed and flowed, his scoring has been a constant in an ever-changing NBA landscape.

He reminded everyone of his age-defying consistency with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting Friday against the Suns while adding another notch to a star-studded scoring belt.

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Kevin Owens may be sidelined from WWE action for now, but thatâ€s not stopping him from enjoying life—or making epic fan-favorite meetups.

Home Alone legend Macaulay Culkin revealed on Instagram that he recently hung out with Kevin Owens at one of his movie screenings. Yes, really—Kevin met Kevin. The caption from Culkin said it all:

“Just a couple of Kevins. Thanks for coming to the show last night @officialfightowensfight. It was great meeting you and your family. Say happy birthday to Owen for me. Get well soon dude.â€

The post also included a photo of Culkin alongside a smiling Owens—sporting a casual look but clearly on the mend from his neck surgery earlier this year.

While Owens has been mostly quiet about his recovery timeline, this unexpected appearance and wholesome shoutout from Culkin is a nice morale boost for fans who are missing KO on WWE TV. It also follows Owens†recent video from the WWE Performance Center showing him getting back into shape—no words, just hustle.

WWE hasnâ€t confirmed when Owens will return to the ring, but moments like this show heâ€s out there, living life and slowly stepping back into the limelight.

What do you think about this crossover between Kevin Owens and Macaulay Culkin? Should WWE do something with it down the line? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:In this weekâ€s The Fix Mailbag with PWTorch VIP analyst Todd Martin and host PWTorch editor Wade Keller, they answer emails from VIP members on the following topics:

• Why didn’t WCW tell more stories like Goldberg’s since his drew ratings?
• Is C.M. Punk a hypocrite for criticizing The Young Bucks for not wanting to work with him in AEW when he didn’t want to work with Colt Cabana?
• Is it all that important that Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada are in different leagues in the C2?
• What MMA fights have ended with a towel being thrown in?
• Thoughts on UFC’s move to Paramount+ next month and what to expect to change
• Paul Heyman writing for WWE while still owning ECW?
• Thoughts on an A1 storyline for Ricochet
• Who could WWE book to lose to Brock Lesnar among various scenarios in different promotions?
• Why isn’t Kevin Kelly announcing anymore and will he ever again?
• The commercial content in WWE streaming and the disappointment in the end of WWE Network and eventually Peacock archives
• Does it make sense to delete all of the Chris Benoit content from WWE archives?
• Even though WWE PLEs and AEW PPVs are different, is the answer to find a middle ground or is there good reason they are so different?
• Vikings vs. Commanders this Sunday

Email: thefixmailbag@gmail.com

View the list of books Todd Martin has reviewed with their placements from Tier 1 to Tier 5. CLICK HERE

DIRECT LINK: VIP AUDIO LINK

NOT VIP? NO PROBLEM… CLICK HERE FOR VIP SIGN UP INFO

OTHER LINKS…

Or support us on Patreon…

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Emails…

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The case surrounding the death of former WWE developmental talent Kevin Nikel has taken another major shift, as accused shooter Michael Hogue has now had his existing parole revoked—ensuring he stays behind bars regardless of bond status.

Authorities confirmed that Hogue, who was arrested in connection with Nikelâ€s July homicide, was already on parole from a previous criminal conviction. He had been released from prison just one month before the shooting took place. That parole has now been officially pulled.

Hogue had been serving parole stemming from an earlier case involving Aggravated Assault and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and he was expected to remain under supervision until April 2033. The parole board revoked that status yesterday, meaning that even if Hogue posts the $750,000 bond tied to the murder case, he will remain incarcerated.

Both Hogue and Amanda Marie Penny—Nikelâ€s ex‑wife—are now scheduled for a court hearing on January 5, 2026. Hogue faces 1st Degree Murder, while Penny is charged as Accomplice to Murder in the 1st Degree, carrying identical penalties under Arkansas law.

If convicted, both defendants are facing between 10 and 40 years in prison—or life imprisonment. They have also been charged individually with Possession of Firearm by Certain Persons. Under Arkansas law, that charge can bring up to 20 years, and could escalate to a Class B Felony if the suspect has a prior violent felony or the firearm was possessed during a separate criminal offense. Hogue meets both qualifiers.

Authorities previously revealed that Nikel died after being found shot in the abdomen on July 11 in Rogers, Arkansas. He was transported for emergency treatment but later died at the hospital. He was 41 years old.

After their arrests earlier this year, Nikelâ€s mother, Susan Kinderman, spoke publicly about what authorities shared with her. She said detectives believe her son may have been led into a confrontation before the shooting.

“There was some kind of an argument. Maybe there was texting going back and forth. I think they enticed Kevin to meet up with them. I was told by the detectives that there was some kind of altercation. Shots were fired, and Kevin was killed, and thatâ€s all we really know.â€

Kinderman also explained that Nikel and Pennyâ€s relationship unraveled shortly before his death.

“She was his first friend that he met in high school. They were dating, then they got married. They were happy for a long time, and then I guess they started to grow apart. And, you know, neither one of them were happy. Kevin took a job where he could be gone two weeks at a time, and things just progressively got worse, until they divorced.â€

Working under the names Ivan Warsaw and later Knuckles Madsen, Nikel signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2012 and wrestled regularly across WWE NXT events before leaving in 2013. His career continued throughout Texas, Arkansas, and Memphis, including matches against legends such as Jerry Lawler. Kinderman says her focus now is simply finding out what truly happened.

“I just hope that we have a lot of answers. I know that the justice system will work. Whatever penalty they get, Iâ€m fine with. But instead of that, I want to make sure that we know exactly what happened and why. I would like to hear it from them. I donâ€t know if I will, but I would rather hear from those two, and weâ€ll just have to see how that comes out.â€

Both Hogue and Penny remain incarcerated in Benton County Jail as they await their next hearing.

With parole revoked and the murder case now fully advancing, the coming months may finally reveal how and why Nikelâ€s life was cut short.

Do you believe revoking parole was the right decision based on the circumstances? What outcome do you expect when the case goes to court? Share your thoughts in the comments—weâ€d like to hear your perspective.

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We live in flush times.

Konnor Griffin is the No. 1 prospect in baseball, and heâ€s one of the best prospects weâ€ve seen in several years. But as good as Griffin is, Kevin McGonigle has a calling card of his own, as the Tigers shortstop/second baseman is as close to a perfect hitting prospect as we will likely see for years.

There are prospects who hit the ball harder. There are some who make a bit more contact. If you look really hard, you may find someone with better plate coverage and pitch recognition.

But in almost every case, those hitters have strengths and weaknesses. They trade off contact for power. They trade some aggression for walks, or walks for aggression.

McGonigle manages to do it all without making any tradeoffs. Somehow, he manages to be elite at generating power, making swing decisions and emphasizing contact—all at the same time. And in that way, he is one of one.

So, just how difficult is it to pick out a flaw in McGonigleâ€s game as a hitter? Let’s see if we can find one.

Can He Hit For Power?

When McGonigle was an amateur, there was little doubt he was going to hit. But if you wanted to find potential flaws, the biggest concern was whether he would hit for power. McGonigle was short and compact. He wasnâ€t skinny, but he wasnâ€t as filled out as he is now.Â

Those concerns have since been put to rest. In 2025, McGonigle’s .587 slugging percentage was third-best in the full-season minors among qualifiers, and his .278 isolated power also ranked in the top five.Â

McGonigle has demonstrated all-fields power. He has short arms, a fast bat and the ability to use his legs in his swing to punish pitchers who try to come in on him for line-drive doubles and home runs. But heâ€s also shown the ability to stay back and drive the ball to left field.

Hereâ€s his spray chart of extra-base hits:

Analytically, McGonigle ranked in the top five percent of MiLB hitters in average exit velocity. He was top 20% in 90th percentile exit velocity and max exit velocity.

Can He Hit Velocity?

Speaking of power, what happens if a pitcher rears back and fires with premium velocity? Can McGonigle handle the heat?

He doesn’t just handle it—he relishes it.

Synergy Sports’ data has velocity information for only 43% of the 1,509 pitches logged for McGonigle in 2025, so that is a key caveat here. But on those 92 pitches at 95-plus mph, he hit .444/.583/.778. He swung 47% of the time on those pitches, right in line with his overall swing rates. He had four singles, three doubles and a home run against pitchers 95 mph and above.

The home run, hit off a 100 mph Jarlin Susana fastball, was one of the most majestic home runs of the 2025 MiLB season.

Kevin McGonigle gets 100 from Jarlin Susana and hits it a billion feet to right for a solo homer. Itâ€s his 7th with the SeaWolves. @Greg_Gania on the call. pic.twitter.com/iUwWrbQ41x

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) August 19, 2025

Against fastballs, McGonigle hit .344/.438/.602. He swung and missed only 14% of the time and had 30 extra-base hits.

Clearly, trying to beat McGonigle with velocity may work sporadically, but itâ€s not a plan for consistent success.

How Well Does He Cover The Plate?

McGonigle may not be the physical specimen that some other top prospects are, but being 5-foot-10 has its advantages. For instance, he has a smaller strike zone than a 6-foot-5 slugger, and his shorter arms also help with controlling the barrel of the bat. McGonigleâ€s ability to make hard contact in all quadrants of the strike zone is impressive, as the Synergy Sports data illustrates.

Pitchers are best advised to work away against McGonigle. If a pitcher can consistently work away from him in the middle of the zone, thereâ€s a slight bit of a hole there. But even in that location, McGonigle still hits .250 with a .425 slugging percentage.

He rarely swings and misses, but when he does, itâ€s usually on pitches on the outer third of the strike zone. McGonigle is also more likely to take strikes in that outer third.

But even out there, he mashes. Last year, McGonigle hit .316/.320/.480 on pitches in the outer third of the strike zone. Here’s some more location data to better illustrate the point:

• Middle of the zone (horizontal): .306/.303/.653
• Middle of the zone (vertical):.304/.295/.559
• Inner third: .397/.391/.778
• Bottom third: .288/.288/.470
• Top third:.396/.402/.791

Some advice for opposing pitchers: Avoid up and in at all costs. Heâ€s slugging 1.182 there. But, again, thereâ€s really nowhere in the zone that will consistently beat McGonigle. Here’s his OPS by location:

Thereâ€s just nowhere in the strike zone that’s proven to be a reliable hole pitchers can attack McGonigle.

Can You Make Him Chase?

So, if you canâ€t consistently beat McGonigle in the strike zone, the best way to attack him must be by having excellent command and working just off the plate. Ideally, if McGonigle can be induced to chase, he’ll have to hit pitchers†pitches.

Well, the problem with that plan is McGonigle doesnâ€t chase pitches out of the strike zone. His chase rate ranks in the top 20% of all MiLB hitters. And that stat actually somewhat undersells how well he knows the zone.

Many of the hitters with the best chase rates are very passive hitters. If you rarely swing, itâ€s much easier to avoid chasing pitches out of the zone. To cite an extreme example, Guardians outfielder Jaison Chourio racked up tons of walks and an elite chase rate by swinging at only 36% of all pitches he saw in 2025.

McGonigle, however, swings at 45% of all pitches he sees. That combination of aggression while only swinging at strikes is extremely rare. His swing percentage minus his chase rate is in the top 3% of MiLB hitters.

So, trying to get McGonigle to chase pitches out of the strike zone is unlikely to have much success. And it explains why he has a career .410 MiLB on-base percentage. He wants to hit, but heâ€s happy to take walks, as well.

Maybe Bring In A Lefty?

Thereâ€s a reason that the Tigers (and many other teams) love to draft lefthanded hitters. Hitters who can bat lefthanded (lefties and switch-hitters) had the platoon advantage in 81% of their plate appearances in the majors in 2025. In comparison, righthanded hitters faced lefthanders in only 34% of their plate appearances.

But lefthanded hitters are often relatively helpless when they do get matched up against a lefthander. Thatâ€s not the case for McGonigle, though. He faced lefties in 24% of his plate appearances in 2025 and hit .321/.444/.628 against them. He slashed .300/.396/.569 against righthanders. McGonigle was a slightly worse hitter against lefties than righties in 2024, but a better hitter against lefties in his brief 2023 pro debut.Â

Over parts of three pro seasons, McGonigle has shown no issues facing pitchers with the platoon advantage. While it may work against may others, bringing in a lefty from the pen is not a clear path to getting McGonigle out.

Spin To Win?

Ok, hereâ€s something that actually does work a little bit. McGonigle hit only .216/.361/.454 against breaking balls this year. His miss rate is still solid (25%), but it’s significantly higher than it is against fastballs.

Changeups and other offspeed offerings donâ€t do the same. McGonigle hit .308/.372/.615 against them, and his miss rate is 21%.

These are minor flaws on a nearly impeccable resume. Itâ€s not that pitchers canâ€t get McGonigle out. Itâ€s just that what worked in the first inning may not work again in the fourth. And pitchers have to be very precise, because any mistakes are punished.

No Major Weaknesses

To summarize, McGonigle does everything well. In 2025, he was the only MiLB hitter to rank in the top 20% of hitters in power (average exit velocity, 90th percentile exit velocity), swing decisions (chase rate and swing rate minus chase rate) and contact ability (miss rate and in-zone miss rate) and xwOBA.

Baseball Americaâ€s MiLB analytical data stretches back to 2019. According to our records, there was no MiLB hitter in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 or 2019 who hit the top 20% in all those marks either.

McGonigle posted 50-plus extra-base hits while striking out fewer than 50 times in an MiLB season. He has the kind of power and contact combination that is very hard to find.

McGonigle really is one of one.

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Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian midfielder who plays for Napoli and the Belgium national team. He shares the record for the most European international assists with 53. He began his senior career at Genk and helped them win the 2010–11 Belgian Pro League. He joined Chelsea in 2012 but played little and spent a loan spell at Werder Bremen. In 2014, he moved to Wolfsburg, became one of the Bundesligaâ€s top players, and helped them win the 2014–15 DFB-Pokal.

De Bruyne transferred to Manchester City in 2015 for a club-record £54 million. Across 422 matches, he won the Champions League, six Premier League titles, five League Cups, and two FA Cups. He played a major part in Cityâ€s 100-point 2017–18 season, equaled the Premier League single-season assist record in 2019–20, and won Player of the Season that year and again in 2021–22. He was also key to Cityâ€s treble-winning 2022–23 campaign.

Who is Kevin De Bruyne Wife?

Kevin De Bruyneâ€s wife is Michèle De Bruyne (née Lacroix). She was born in Belgium and worked in media and as an influencer before becoming known publicly through her relationship with the Manchester City midfielder. Kevin and Michèle first connected in 2014 after she liked one of his tweets, which led to conversations over text and eventually a relationship.

Michèle wasnâ€t always seen regularly at his matches during his early Manchester City years, but she became a familiar presence later on. She celebrated with him on the pitch when City won the Premier League title in 2018, joining him and their young son for photos with the trophy.

More About Michèle De Bruyne

Michèle De Bruyne is closely involved in Kevin De Bruyneâ€s life and career. She regularly supports him at Manchester City matches and during international tournaments. After Cityâ€s 2018 Premier League win, she shared a photo of herself holding the trophy with Kevin and their son, and when Belgium exited the 2018 World Cup, she posted a picture with Belgian colors painted on her face.

She also co-hosts the Dutch-language Secret Society podcast, described as “your dose of girl talk,†where she and her co-host interview Dutch and Belgian creatives, including actress Lize Feryn, DJ Luna Stevens, and photographer Marie Wynants.

Charity work is another part of her life with Kevin. They have visited children in Manchester hospitals through Roc Nation Sports†Kicks for Kids campaign, with Michèle writing that it was “wonderful to see smiles on these childrenâ€s faces.â€

Is Michèle De Bruyne on Instagram?

Michèle De Bruyne is on Instagram under the username @lacroixmichele, where she has 46 posts, about 597k followers, and follows 766 accounts.

How long have Kevin De Bruyne and Michèle De Bruyne been married?

Kevin and Michèle De Bruyne have been married since June 26, 2017. He proposed to her at the Eiffel Tower in December 2016, and they held their wedding in Sorrento, Italy, the following summer. After the ceremony, she posted a photo captioned simply “26.06.2017,†while Kevin said he was “so proud I can call you my wife now.â€

How many kids do Kevin De Bruyne and Michèle De Bruyne have?

Kevin De Bruyne and Michèle De Bruyne have three children together: their sons Mason Milian (born March 2016) and Rome (born October 2018), and their daughter Suri (born September 2020). Kevin once called Michèle the “best mommy†when he celebrated her 29th birthday.

FAQs

Q. Is Kevin De Bruyne leaving Man City?

A. Following the expiration of his contract with Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne signed a free transfer to Napoli.

Q. What happened to Kevin De Bruyne?

A. Kevin De Bruyne began his rehabilitation in Belgium after undergoing surgery in Antwerp for a high-grade hamstring tear.

Q. Who is going to replace Kevin De Bruyne?

A. Manchester City is considering Morgan Gibbs-White as a possible Kevin De Bruyne replacement.

Q. Is Kevin De Bruyne a Ronaldo fan?

A. Kevin De Bruyne stated, “If I have to choose a player I’d love to play alongside, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo.”

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Kevin Nash is weighing in on one of Bret Hartâ€s most jaw-dropping accusations—and heâ€s not holding back.

In an update on his Kliq This podcast, Nash addressed Hartâ€s recent claim that Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon were romantically involved. The Hall of Famer flat-out rejected the allegation, saying he spent years traveling with Michaels and never saw anything that would even hint at such a relationship.

“I spent the better part of three years of my life with Shawn Michaels, and I never remember having a double knockout with Vince during any of our travel.â€

He admitted heâ€s heard a lot of wild rumors over the years—but this one didnâ€t stick.

“Listen, Iâ€ve heard a lot of [expletive] about Vince. Never that… I read that and I didnâ€t—I didnâ€t buy that s*** when I heard it, you know.â€

Nash then pivoted to address Hartâ€s state of mind. While remaining respectful, he suggested that Bretâ€s personal hardships—ranging from PTSD and a stroke to the tragic death of his brother Owen and a divorce—may be shaping how he views past events.

“I think he has PTSD, but also he suffered from a bit of brain damage from the stroke. And strokes change you, not just physically but emotionally as well… Bretâ€s had a rough life.â€

Despite rejecting Hartâ€s allegation, Nash made it clear that thereâ€s no personal animosity.

“Anytime weâ€ve gotten together and have a minute to break bread and speak… itâ€s always been good times.â€

This all comes after Bret Hart made explosive comments during an interview, where he said, point blank:

“I think that Shawn and Vince were sleeping with each other… I think Iâ€m very close to the truth here.â€

“Itâ€s like I got caught between two lovers, you know? And I got shafted and screwed over.â€

“Shawn was so envious and jealous of my position that he finally had to sleep with Vince to get it.â€

Kevin Nashâ€s response brings a grounded perspective to the controversy—one shaped by firsthand experience and years of history with Shawn Michaels. While Hart remains firm in his belief, Nash isnâ€t buying into it—and heâ€s not alone.

Do you think Kevin Nash is right to chalk this up to Bret Hartâ€s trauma, or is Bret Hart just speaking his truth—no matter how uncomfortable it sounds? Sound off in the comments and let us know where you stand.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

December 1, 2025 11:47 am

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Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian midfielder who plays for Napoli and the Belgium national team. His mother is Belgian but was born in Burundi and also lived in the Ivory Coast before moving to London with her Flemish parents. She returned to Belgium after meeting Kevinâ€s father, Herwig. The family settled in Drongen, near Ghent, in the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders. De Bruyne speaks Dutch as his first language and is also fluent in English, French, and German. As a child, he often visited his grandparents in London, which he later described as his “second home.â€

De Bruyne has been with Michèle Lacroix since 2014. They married in June 2017 and have three children together. He made his senior international debut for Belgium in 2010 and has earned more than 110 caps, scoring 36 goals. He took part in Belgiumâ€s runs to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, and he was named in the Fan Dream Team at the 2018 World Cup, where Belgium finished third. He also played at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.

Kevin De Bruyne Contract

Kevin De Bruyneâ€s contract with Napoli is a three-year contract after leaving Manchester City as a free agent. Napoli are offering him a staggered salary: €6 million net per season for the first two years, then €5 million net in the third year. He will also receive a €10 million signing bonus because he is arriving on a free transfer. This deal is a major pay cut from his Manchester City wages, but he prefers the move for football and lifestyle reasons.

What is Kevin De Bruyne’s salary?

Kevin De Bruyneâ€s contract is a three-year deal with Napoli as a free agent. The offer gives him €6 million net per season for the first two years, then €5 million net in the third year. He will also receive a €10 million signing-on bonus because he is arriving without a transfer fee.

How much does Kevin De Bruyne make in a minute?

Kevin De Bruyne makes about €11.4 per minute from his €6 million annual salary.

What is Kevin De Bruyne’s Career Earnings

De Bruyneâ€s career earnings are estimated to be between $70 million and $100 million. His major financial leap came after his 2021 contract renewal with Manchester City, which made him the Premier Leagueâ€s highest-paid player at £400,000 per week, giving him about £20.8 million per year. His overall wealth also increased through endorsements that bring him $4–10 million annually, with companies like Nike, EA Sports, Credit Karma, and Audi adding to his earnings.Â

Kevin De Bruyneâ€s Year-by-Year Contract History

Kevin De Bruyneâ€s contract is a deal worth €12.2 million gross per year with SSC Napoli in 2025. Before leaving England, he spent the 2025 season at Manchester City, where he earned £20.8 million, the same annual salary he received in 2024 and 2023.

De Bruyneâ€s big pay jump came in 2021 when City renewed his deal at £20.8 million, built on a weekly wage of about £400,000. From 2018 to 2020, he earned £18.2 million, after an earlier rise from £7.8 million between 2015 and 2017. His first major salary came at Wolfsburg in 2014 with about €4 million, before moving from Chelsea, where he earned around £1.3 million when he first arrived in 2012.

YearsClubAnnual Salary (Estimated)2025 (July)SSC Napoli€12.2 Million (Gross)2025Manchester City£20.8 Million2024Manchester City£20.8 Million2023Manchester City£20.8 Million2021Manchester City£20.8 Million (Approx. £400k/week)2020Manchester City£18.2 Million2019Manchester City£18.2 Million2018Manchester City£18.2 Million (Approx. £350k/week)2017Manchester City£7.8 Million2016Manchester City£7.8 Million2015Manchester City£7.8 Million (Approx. £150k/week)2014 (Jan)VfL Wolfsburg~€4 Million2013 (Jul)Chelsea FC~£1.3 Million2012 (Aug)Werder Bremen(Salary covered by Chelsea)2012 (Jan)Chelsea FC~£1.3 Million (Approx. £25k/week)

FAQs

Q. Is Kevin De Bruyne a free agent?

A. Yes. De Bruyne joined Napoli as a free agent after leaving Manchester City.

Q. Is Kevin De Bruyne leaving Manchester City?

A. Yes. Kevin De Bruyne has left Manchester City. His exit was confirmed before the season ended, and he said goodbye to the fans after his final home match. He has now moved to Napoli.

Q. How much was Kevin De Bruyne paid per week at Manchester City?

A. Kevin De Bruyne earned £400,000 per week during his time at Manchester City.

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When Mat Ishbia initiated the trade for Kevin Durant literal hours after buying the Suns, he had visions of championship banners dancing in his head. When Phoenix shipped Durant to Houston 28 months later — after a tumultuous tenure that included more fired head coaches (three) than playoff series wins (one), the entire misbegotten Bradley Beal era and well over $200 million in luxury tax payments — the franchise felt bereft, so far adrift from relevance that it could no longer see the shore, with arguably the NBAâ€s grimmest future outlook.

Thanks to the Durant and Beal trades, the Suns donâ€t control their own first-round draft pick for the next seven years. Thanks to the decision to use the stretch provision to waive the balance of Bealâ€s gargantuan salary, theyâ€ll also have an unmovable $19.4 million roster charge on their salary cap sheet through 2030. Those bills are still coming due; the path back to contention still looks murky at best, and impassable at worst.

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With all those picks out the door and all that money already spent, though, all the current iteration of the Suns can do is take the first steps down that path. And … theyâ€re kind of kicking ass at that?

After staging a stunning late comeback to knock off the Timberwolves in Emirates NBA Cup play on Friday and taking down the Victor Wembanyama-less Spurs on Sunday, the Suns have won three straight and eight of their last nine, sitting at 11-6 on the season. Phoenix enters Mondayâ€s matchup with the Rockets — a contest that lost a bit of zing when news broke this weekend that Durant would miss the game while tending to a family matter — just a half-game behind Durantâ€s Rockets for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference, and just a game and a half behind Luka DonÄićâ€s Lakers and Nikola Jokićâ€s Nuggets for the second seed.

This, to put it mildly, is not how most prognosticators saw the Suns coming out of the gates after trading away two huge pieces, hiring a new general manager whoâ€d spent virtually his entire career in college basketball (Brian Gregory) and yet another new head coach (former Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott), and reforming the 2024 Hornets†center rotation. It is, however, pretty much exactly the kind of team that Ishbia envisioned pivoting toward after his attempt to microwave a winner so spectacularly flamed out.

(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

“After last season, we said, ‘That old stuff that we did? It didnâ€t work,’†Ishbia told reporters at Suns media day. “Letâ€s get it done the right way. Letâ€s build an identity. … I donâ€t have a game total that weâ€re going to win, but I do think the expectations are a team that weâ€re proud of, a team that plays hard, a team that competes, a team thatâ€s getting better and is fun to watch.â€

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Thatâ€s precisely what these Suns have been through the opening weeks of the season: a team that plays a tough, physical, relentless brand of basketball, an approach that starts with a commitment to getting stops.

Suns’ new identity

Under Ott, Phoenix has jumped on the post-Pacers league-wide trend of picking opponents up the length of the floor. After dialing up full-court pressure on just on 1.5% of their defensive possessions last season, according to Synergy Sports, the Suns are pressing 5.8% of the time this season, the seventh-highest rate in the league. As a result, theyâ€ve seen one of the leagueâ€s largest jumps in average pick-up distance, according to NBA.comâ€s John Schuhmann.

The full-court pressing is “one way for me to stick in the league,†Suns guard Collin Gillespie recently told Logan Murdock of The Ringer. “I got to play hard. I got to compete. Thatâ€s probably my calling card as an NBA player.â€

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(Being willing to take on the taxing dirty work of guarding the full 94 mightâ€ve helped get Gillespieâ€s foot in the door, but what heâ€s showing in the rest of his game is kicking that sucker off the hinges. The third-year Villanova product is averaging 11.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game off the bench, shooting 40.6% from 3-point range on more than six attempts per game. Heâ€s dished 87 assists against 26 turnovers this season — a top-20 assist-to-turnover ratio among rotation players whoâ€ve made at least 10 appearances — and just dropped a game-winning pull-up dagger to beat Minnesota. Heâ€s not just a hustle player. Heâ€s a player.)

Aggressive backcourt pickups, hard doubles in the post, in-your-jersey ball pressure, hands in the passing lanes while tracking cutters: These Suns want to man up, get in your face as early, as often and as physically as possible, and make you feel them on every possession. Despite frequently being at a size disadvantage across multiple positions — Brooks, Royce Oâ€Neale and Ryan Dunn, all listed at either 6-foot-6 or 6-7, take the bulk of the power forward minutes, while backcourt rotation members Gillespie, Grayson Allen and Jordan Goodwin all measure 6-4 or under — the Suns swarm, do their work early to push larger opponents off their spots in the post, crack back on the defensive glass, force you to make plays through thickets of arms and legs.

They no longer feel like the laissez faire team that employed Durant and Beal. They now feel, frankly, like the one that employs Dillon Brooks, who helped shepherd (sometimes overly) aggressive defensive overhauls in Memphis and Houston, and is now doing the same in Phoenix.

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“Heâ€s one of the hardest workers Iâ€ve been around,†Suns superstar Devin Booker said of Brooks, one of the key pieces that came to Phoenix in the Durant trade, alongside high-scoring guard Jalen Green (working his way back from a hamstring injury) and No. 10 overall draft pick Khaman Maluach. “He spends countless hours — even when he was going through his core injury, I was telling him, ‘You supposed to be going that hard?’â€

Whether heâ€s supposed to or not, Brooks does go that hard — and now, so, too, do the Suns. (Fun stat: Phoenix is tied for seventh in loose balls recovered per game, up from 20th last season.) Occasionally, all that physicality is to their detriment: Phoenix has been whistled for 23.7 personal fouls per game, second-most in the NBA, and sits 24th in opponent free-throw rate.

“Weâ€re not going to be a low-foul team,†Ott recently said, according to Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports. “Weâ€re going to defend to the legal limit [and] we know that comes at a cost.â€

But that cost, thus far, hasnâ€t outweighed the benefits. The refs canâ€t call everything, and setting that sort of physical defensive tone — with Brooks, Oâ€Neale and Dunn up front and on the wing, with Gillespie and Goodwin at the point of attack — can pay dividends that compound over the course of the game. And so far, the results have been impressive.

After finishing 27th in points allowed per possession last season, Phoenix enters Monday ranked eighth, according to Cleaning the Glass. The Suns are second in the NBA in steals per game, behind only the league-best Thunder — including a single-game season-high 19 thefts in a win over the Trail Blazers last week — and fifth in deflections per game. Theyâ€re forcing turnovers on 16.9% of opponents†offensive possessions — the third-highest rate in the league this season, and the highest rate of any Suns team since at least 2003.

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That defense is leading to offense, too.

Suns’ offense better without KD?

Phoenix ranks sixth in points off turnovers, scoring 1.41 points per possession off a steal, compared to 1.17 when they push following a defensive rebound and 0.99 against a set half-court defense.

Ott wants the Suns hitting the gas and hunting early offense whenever possible; after finishing 25th in average time to shot last season, Phoenix sits fifth so far this season, according to Inpredictable, firing one up within 10.9 seconds of having the ball. The whole team is operating with a let-it-fly mentality, especially from 3-point land: Nearly 41% of Phoenixâ€s shots have come from beyond the arc, a top-10 rate, with multiple Suns hoisting long balls at career-high frequency.

Allen has the greenest light of his eight-year career to fire off the dribble, and heâ€s taking full advantage, launching nearly 10 triples per 36 minutes and drilling them at a 44.7% clip on his way to a career-high 18.5 points and 4.3 assists per game. Oâ€Neale, long one of the leagueâ€s more dependable 3-and-D wings, is at 43.5% from distance on nearly nine attempts per-36.

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Brooks hasnâ€t been nearly as accurate, shooting just 34.1% from deep, but he has looked very comfortable in a larger offensive role, finishing 28.2% of Phoenixâ€s offensive possessions with a shot attempt, foul drawn or turnover — a jump of more than 10% from his usage rates in Houston — and shooting at career-best rates inside the arc en route to 21.4 points per game.

“Yeah, this game is all about confidence,†Brooks said, according to Olson. “No matter what level it is, you gotta be confident in your game.â€

Booker has never lacked confidence in his game. After an up-and-down 2024-25 season that saw him play through some groin and back issues amid the vibes vortex of the KD/Beal experiment circling the drain, heâ€s back to looking like the perennial All-NBA candidate weâ€d become accustomed to seeing, averaging a team-best 26.9 points and 7.1 assists per game, shooting 47.2% from the floor and 88% from the foul line:

With Booker firmly at the controls on the ball — an estimated 60% of his minutes have come while functioning as Phoenixâ€s point guard, according to Cleaning the Glass — the Suns have taken a jump on the offensive end, too. Phoenix enters Monday scoring 119.1 points per 100 possessions outside of garbage time, tied for seventh in the NBA.

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The plan of attack looks different. Ott, who last season served as an assistant under Kenny Atkinson on Clevelandâ€s record-setting offense, prioritizes de-cluttering the interior: Phoenix is 26th in post-ups and 22nd in elbow touches per game, and has dropped its midrange frequency by about 4%. (Bye-bye, KD and Brad.) Making sure the floor is properly spaced — shooters stationed deep in each corner and in the slot, often with someone lurking in the dunker spot for a drop-off — has helped open up dribble penetration, with the Suns ranking 13th in drives per game (up from 20th last season) and seventh in assists off forays to the basket.

[Get more Suns news: Phoenix team feed]

With Booker, Allen and revelation backup point guard Gillespie consistently getting downhill and looking to spray the ball out to the perimeter, the Suns rank third in the NBA in points scored per possession on spot-up shots, according to Synergy. With multiple Suns shooting the cover off the ball off those kickouts, they have the third-highest team effective field goal percentage (which accounts for 3-pointers being worth more than 2-pointers) on catch-and-shoot looks, according to Second Spectrum. Combine that with an increased emphasis on pounding the offensive glass — fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate and 10th in second-chance possessions per game — and strong finishing on the interior, and youâ€ve got the recipe for what is, kind of hilariously, on pace for a better offensive finish than any KD-era Suns team.

There have been hiccups: a loss in Utah where the Suns gave up an 8-1 run in the final two minutes of overtime; a one-point defeat to the Grizzlies in one of the rare highlights of Ja Morantâ€s season to date; that disastrous loss to the Hawks in which Phoenix blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter. And there are caveats: chiefly, that the Suns have played one of the NBAâ€s softest opening slates, with 10 home games against seven road contests, headlined by a recent five-game stretch that began with a home-and-home against the Clippers before taking on the Pelicans, Mavericks and Pacers.

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Conversely, they have one of the leagueâ€s toughest remaining schedules, which starts getting rough right about … now. Between Monday and Christmas, the Suns will have to face the Rockets, Lakers and Warriors twice, in addition to meetings with the Thunder, Nuggets and Wolves; by Boxing Day, we should have a much better sense of just how serious these Suns really are.

Considering how deeply unserious many thought Phoenix was after Ishbiaâ€s failed attempt to speed-run a titlist, though, these first few weeks represent a mammoth sea change in how we must consider the Suns. If, as my pal Paul Flannery used to say, the best time you can have in the NBA is right before you get good, perhaps the second best time is when, after being dreadfully unfun, you start to rediscover a spark of joy.

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The picks are dealt, the moneyâ€s spent, and you have — reasonably, I think, from both a talent and “recognizing your organizational saints†perspective — tied yourself to Booker for as much and as long as possible. So: what do you do? Try to refresh the culture, try to establish an identity, try to rebuild the trust with your fan base, and try to make the experience of watching your team play fun again. Thatâ€s where the Suns are right now. And after two years of slogging and spiraling, that ainâ€t nothing.

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