PHOENIX — Kevin Durant achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday night by becoming the eighth player in NBA history to reach the 30,000-point mark during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, accomplishing it with a free throw in the latter stages of the third quarter.
The 36-year-old forward for the Phoenix Suns, who was recently selected for his 15th All-Star game, now joins an illustrious group that includes LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Wilt Chamberlain. Julius Erving also reached the 30,000-point threshold when combining his totals from both the NBA and ABA circuits.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized alongside those legendary players who have contributed immensely to the game and have driven its evolution,” Durant remarked. “I’ve always aimed to maximize my potential every day and make the most out of my career. Being mentioned in the same breath as those greats indicates that I must be doing something worthwhile.”
Durant, a four-time scoring champion, continues to establish himself as one of the top scorers in the league, now in his 17th season. He currently averages approximately 27 points per game and boasts a shooting percentage of 52% from the field.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed his admiration, stating, “It’s something special for everyone who works with him daily. We are consistently impressed by his dedication, the effort he puts in, the meticulous attention to detail, and it all culminates in this incredible achievement of 30,000 points. He’s not just an extraordinary player; he’s an exceptional human being.”
Durant amassed 17,566 points during his first nine years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the franchise that was originally known as the Seattle SuperSonics when he debuted in the 2007-08 season. His journey also includes stints with the Golden State Warriors, where he scored 5,374 points, the Brooklyn Nets with 3,744 points, and now the Suns, for whom he has accumulated 3,324 points.
In the game, Durant finished with 34 points on an efficient 12-of-18 shooting performance, although the Suns ultimately fell short, losing 119-112.
