Kevin Durant Joins 30,000-Point Club in Historic Milestone

Kevin Durant made history Tuesday night as he became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points. While the 117-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies dropped the Phoenix Suns below .500 (26-27), the night will be remembered for Durant’s historic feat.

Durant is one of two active players with 30,000 points — LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time leader with 41,623 points and counting. After James, the six other men ahead of Durant are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Dirk Nowitzki (31,560) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419).

“A true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shaped the game and push the game forward,” Durant said following Phoenix’s loss. “That’s always been my goal, to get the most out of myself every day and the most out of my career.”

Recently selected for his 15th All-Star Game, Durant has been one of the game’s best scorers since entering the league in 2007. As a rookie with the Seattle SuperSonics, Durant averaged 20.3 PPG en route to winning Rookie of the Year. Following the team’s move to Oklahoma City, Durant won four scoring titles between 2010-2014. Standing 6-foot-11, Durant is an elite shooter and undoubtedly one of the most difficult players to guard in league history. Speaking Tuesday night, current Suns coach Mike Budenholzer lauded Durant’s ability.

“He’s probably one of the most incredible shotmakers I’ve ever been around,” Budenholzer said. “And I’ve gone against him a lot of nights too. So it’s nice to be on his side. The way he can rise up and shoot over people — his height, his ball handling. If he’s not the most incredible shotmaker, I’m not sure who is.”

For his career, Durant is shooting 50.2% from the field, 38.8% from three, and 88.2% from the free throw line. His 27.3 PPG is the sixth-best mark of all-time. The legend has not slowed down late in his career, either. Currently 36, Durant is averaging 27.1 PPG while shooting nearly 53% from the field and above 40% from beyond the arc.