Kevin Durant has made his name in NBA history, becoming just the eighth player to reach 30,000 career points. The milestone was reached in the third quarter of the Phoenix Suns’ 119-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, when Durant made the free throw to officially break the record.
At 36 years old, the Suns forward continues to demonstrate exceptional skill as a striker. His performance places him in a special group alongside LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain. Basketball legend Julius Erving also reached the milestone when combining his NBA and ABA points.
“It’s a true honor to be mentioned with these legends—players who shaped the game and pushed it forward,” Durant said following the game. “My goal has always been to get the most out of myself every day and make the most of my career.”
Durant, who won the NBA scoring title, remains one of the most successful scorers in league history in his 17th season. He is currently averaging 27.1 points per game and shooting 52.8% from the field.
Durant’s journey to 30,000 points spanned several franchises:
- Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics (17,566 points)
- Golden State Warriors (5,374 points)
- Brooklyn Nets (3,744 points)
- Phoenix Suns (3,324 points)
Kevin Durant’s incredible goal-scoring ability has earned admiration from across the league. Teammates and opponents alike have acknowledged his historic achievements.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer had highly of Durant’s scoring ability, calling him one of the greatest scorers in basketball history.
“He`s probably one of the most incredible shot-makers I’ve ever been around. And I’ve faced him plenty of times over the years. It’s nice to be on his side now. With his height, ball-handling, and ability to rise up over defenders, I don’t know if there’s anyone better,” Budenholzer said.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, who played against Durant on the milestone night, echoed the sentiment in a post-game interview on TNT.
“He’s one of the greats. Not everyone gets to 30,000 in this league. Hats off to him, and I hope he keeps going. We want to see him out here for a long time.”
Durant also received praise from two other greats in Dirk Nowitzki and Hakeem Olajuwon. Both players acknowledged Durant’s performance. The Suns forward was touched by their words.
“Especially those two—I mean, I’ve stolen so much from Dirk and Hakeem that it’s criminal,” Durant admitted. “I’ve always looked up to the greats, always wanted to reach their level. To hear praise from them and to be in their company is surreal.”
As Durant continues to build his legendary career, there’s no denying the impact he has had on the basketball world and the players around him.
Kevin Durant’s historic 30,000-point milestone came just days after a trade deadline filled with speculation about his future in Phoenix. The Suns are reportedly considering a trade for the superstar, but Durant isn’t concerned with the business side of the league.
“It’s just part of the business,” Durant said at practice on Monday. “Everybody`s bought and sold in this league. Anybody can be up for auction, so I understand that. For me, it’s about getting back on the court and playing the game I love. That’s all I can control.”
Despite rumors flying around, the Suns made minimal changes at the trade deadline, trading center Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets and keeping the core trio of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. With a 26-27 record, Phoenix will be looking to improve in the standings as the season progresses.
Durant showed no signs of distraction on Tuesday, scoring 34 points on ultra-efficient 12-of-18 shooting in the Suns’ 119-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. His performance was yet another reminder of why he remains one of the game’s all-time greats—no matter the trade chatter.
