Later that night, Kevin Durant nailed a free throw to pass Dirk Nowitzki and move into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He needed 17 points to reach the milestone, and before tipoff, nobody thought it would be an issue. The fans were ready to celebrate.
Despite averaging 26.3 points per game this season, Durant struggled against the Pelicans, recording one of his worst shooting performances of the year by going just 5-for-18 from the field. Still, the Rockets edged New Orleans 119–110, and with 15 seconds left in the game, Durant got his chance to climb the historic chart.
“To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolised, I competed against. We had some great battles. He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, you know to be up there with a legend like that, it's just insane. And be right under Michael Jordan, it's crazy, man,” Durant said.
“I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish. It's been amazing so far.”
The 15-time All-Star idolised Nowitzki. Knowing Dirk was one of the best in the league and receiving immense respect, Durant wanted to model his game after him. “I tried to emulate as much as I can all the great players, but I took a lot from Dirk,” Durant said.
The two got to compete in the NBA before Nowitzki retired in 2007. Dirk might have been KD’s idol, but in the heat of competition, they hated each other. In 2011, they met in the Western Conference finals.
The Mavericks defeated the Thunder 4-1 and went on to outlast the Heat in the Finals, capturing the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship. The following year, the teams met again in the playoffs - this time with Oklahoma City sweeping Dallas and ending their season.
More than a decade later, Nowitzki showed his appreciation for Durant’s career in a heartfelt video congratulating him on the milestone. “It’s been incredible to watch his career,” Nowitzki said in the video. “Like I said, he’s one of the purest scorers this game has ever seen. And so, congrats KD, keep it going. Move up a couple more spots and keep it up.”
Durant currently sits at 31,561 career points. Next up on the list? Michael Jordan. The greatest of all time, in the eyes of many. But the Houston forward is on pace to pass him on the list this season as well. If he keeps his current offensive arsenal going, he could do so in the upcoming 29 games. Even at 37 years old, Durant remains one of the league’s most lethal scorers.
Coming from humble beginnings, Kevin had to earn his accolades the hard way. His father deserted the family when he was little; his mother worked two jobs to keep them afloat. Growing up in Maryland, on the eastern outskirts of Washington D.C., basketball was always in his cards.
As a kid, he was unusually tall – built like a post player but torching defenders with guard-like skills. An anomaly then, and still one today. Listed at 6-foot-11, Durant is labelled a forward, yet his handle and shooting touch make him look like a guard. Nicknamed the Slim Reaper, he can dominate from anywhere on the floor.
His potential blossomed early. After receiving scholarship offers from some of the nation’s most prestigious programs, Durant committed to the University of Texas just before his senior year of high school. Why the burnt orange? “I wanted to set my own path.”
It paid off. He was named the Naismith College Player of the Year, and the Longhorns later retired his jersey. After just one season, Durant declared for the NBA Draft and was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. He won Rookie of the Year honours, and soon after, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City.
There, he formed a dynamic duo with Russell Westbrook. A year later, they were joined by James Harden. The Thunder overflowed with talent but failed to win a championship despite Durant’s tremendous efforts.
During the 2012/13 season, the Slip Reaper became the youngest player ever to join the exclusive 50-90-40 club after shooting 51 % from the field, 41 % from beyond the arc, and 90.5 % from the charity stripe. Next year, he averaged 32 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. These numbers brought him his lone regular season MVP award.
Eventually, Durant was ready to move on from the Thunder. In 2016, the sharpshooter rocked the basketball realm by signing with the Golden State Warriors and teaming up with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Soft. Cupcake. Joke. He heard it all from fans across the country for joining an already well-established team. KD didn’t care. After a season in the Bay, he finally broke through, winning back-to-back NBA championships and earning Finals MVP honors both times.
Even a torn Achilles suffered at the end of the 2019 season didn’t slow him down. He went on to sign with the Brooklyn Nets and spent four years in the Big Apple. In February 2023, the Nets traded Durant to Phoenix.
KD shined individually, clocking the first 55-40-90 year in NBA history. Team success, however, proved elusive, and the Suns fell short of their championship goals. Last summer, Phoenix dealt Durant to Houston.
And the prodigy, still known for his killer mid-range game and ability to sink tough shots, keeps glowing. The Rockets are now among the Western Conference frontrunners, and Durant may be the missing piece Houston has long needed for a deep postseason run. His efficiency and consistency have helped keep the team competitive night after night.
“It means a great deal to be around the league for this long. I mean, it takes playing a thousand-plus games to be in this category, at least,” Durant said.
“I'm grateful for all the people who have helped me play this many games - coaches, friends, family that invested in my game. You know how it goes. Without them, without the village, I wouldn't be here. I don't do anything on my own. Never have, never will. It's great to kind of celebrate that with them.”
Despite his age, the four-time Olympic gold medalist continues to defy Father Time, posting elite numbers and adding yet another chapter to an already legendary career.