In a significant milestone, Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to surpass 30,000 career points, a feat achieved despite the Phoenix Suns’ 119-112 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Durant, a formidable presence in the NBA, scored 34 points on Tuesday, boasting a remarkable shooting accuracy of 66.7% from the field and making 3 of his 4 attempts from beyond the arc. In addition to his scoring prowess, he contributed three rebounds, three assists, and five blocks over 43 minutes of play. It was during a free throw late in the third quarter that he achieved this historic milestone, joining an exclusive list alongside LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Wilt Chamberlain.
“It’s a true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shape the game and pushed the game forward,” Durant expressed, according to NBA.com. “That’s always been my goal: to get the most out of myself every day, to get the most out of my career. To be mentioned with those guys, I must be doing something right.”
Durant’s achievement came in his 1,101st game, making him the joint-third fastest to reach this point total, alongside Abdul-Jabbar. The only players who accomplished this faster are Wilt Chamberlain in 941 games and Michael Jordan in 960 games. At 36, Durant remains a potent force on the court, having been a four-time NBA scoring champion and the NBA Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer praised Durant’s work ethic and talent, stating, “We’re amazed by him. The way he comes to work, the time he puts in, the attention to detail, the effort. And it’s translated to 30,000 points. He’s just a special player and a special human being.”
Memphis Grizzlies‘ guard Ja Morant also acknowledged Durant’s accomplishment: “He’s one of the greats. So I honored him with the ball. He said he ain’t care too much about it but, hey, 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.” Morant himself led the Grizzlies with 26 points, as Memphis took an early lead, maintaining it despite a late Phoenix rally.
Despite their loss, Phoenix showed resilience, narrowing the gap to just three points late in the game following a three-pointer by Bol Bol with 2:34 left on the clock. However, Memphis managed to hold on to their advantage, ultimately securing the win. The Grizzlies now sit second in the Western Conference, significantly ahead of the Suns, who are positioned 11th.
Kevin Durant’s landmark achievement of reaching 30,000 career points underscores his enduring impact on the game of basketball, paralleling legends who have paved the way for future generations. Despite the Suns’ loss, Durant’s performance remains a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.
