The ‘Slim Reaper’ strikes again.
Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant has joined an elite class of the best player to ever play the game, becoming just the eighth player in NBA history to reach and exceed 30,000 career points.
Durant accomplished the feat with a free throw in the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies who beat the Suns 119-112. He came into Tuesday night’s game needing 26 points to reach 30,000.
It took Durant 1,101 career games, the third fewest in league history, behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, to get to 30K, as he is currently averaging the sixth-most points per game in NBA history at 27.2 for his career.
The 36-year-old Suns forward, who recently was selected to his 15th All-Star game, joins LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain in the 30,000-point club. Julius Erving also hit the mark when combining his points scored in the NBA and ABA.
“A true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shape the game and push the game forward,” Durant said after the loss. “That’s always been my goal, to get the most out of myself every day and the most out of my career.”
Embed from Getty ImagesDurant was on the verge of this milestone prior to spraining his ankle last Monday in the Suns’ overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, forcing him to be sidelined for Phoenix’s last three contests before Tuesday. He was also the center piece of ongoing trade rumors during this period, which he addressed.
“It’s just part of the business,” Durant told reporters at practice Monday. “Everybody’s bought and sold in this league. Anybody can be up for auction, so I understand that. It’s just about getting back on the court and trying to go out and play the game that I love. It’s part of the business, though. We’ve all got to understand that.”
Durant has showed no signs of decline or father time knocking at his door with his spectacular play even at his advanced age, as he posted averages of 26.1 points on .524/.398/.827 splits, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 39 games for the Suns (26-26) coming into the game. Phoenix has just one more game Wednesday night before the All-Star break, where Durant will be making his 15th career All-Star appearance.
“He’s probably one of the most incredible shotmakers I’ve ever been around,” Suns coach Mike 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.”
Memphis guard Ja Morant, in his postgame, on-court interview on TNT, agreed with Budenholzer, adding that “he’s one of the greats. Everybody don’t get 30K in this league. So, hats off to him. And I hope he keeps going. We want to see him out here.”
Durant, in his postgame media session, was told that Nowitzki and Hakeem Olajuwon praised his accomplishment, and he was more than appreciative.
“Especially those two,” Durant said. “I mean, I stole so much from Dirk and Hakeem that it’s criminal. I’ve just always been inspired by the greats, always wanted to reach their level. This is an exciting time to be an NBA player. But I’ve always been inspired by those guys. And to be in their company is just surreal.”
The next player Durant can pass on the all-time scoring list is Chamberlain, who has 31,419 points. After that, he would only need 141 more points to surpass Nowitzki, (31,560 career points), who played his entire care with the Dallas Mavericks, for the sixth-most points all time.
Durant is only in his second full season with the Suns but has already added several milestones during his brief time in a Suns uniform cementing his legacy among the best of the best in NBA history even after suffering a torn Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
