HOUSTON — The climb continues for the “Easy Money Sniper.” On a historic Sunday night at the Toyota Center, Kevin Durant further cemented his legacy among the greatest to ever touch a basketball, officially passing Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki for 6th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Durant, now playing for the Houston Rockets, entered the matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans needing 17 points to overtake Nowitzki’s career total of 31,560. In true dramatic fashion, the milestone came in the dying moments of the fourth quarter. With 15.2 seconds remaining and the Rockets holding a comfortable lead, Durant stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank two shots, pushing his career total to 31,562 points.
The crowd in Houston erupted, giving the 37-year-old superstar a standing ovation as he etched his name next to another icon in the record books.
The German Giant’s Salute
Immediately following the Rockets’ 119-110 victory, the jumbotron at the Toyota Center lit up with a surprise video message from Nowitzki himself. The Hall of Famer, known for his humor, didn’t disappoint.
“Not super happy about him passing me,” Nowitzki joked in the video, before pivoting to a heartfelt tribute. “But no, seriously, to me, he is one of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen… Congrats KD, keep it going.”
For Durant, the moment was surreal. Speaking to reporters postgame, he reflected on his battles against Dirk, including their memorable playoff clashes when Durant was with Oklahoma City.
“To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against… it’s just insane,” Durant said. “He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, to be up there with a legend like that, it’s just insane.”
Rockets Roll Past Pelicans
While history was the headline, the game itself was a testament to the Rockets’ current firepower. While Durant finished with 18 points, it was young forward Jabari Smith Jr. who led the charge, exploding for a season-high 32 points and draining seven 3-pointers.
Alperen Sengun continued his All-Star caliber play with 21 points and 8 rebounds, helping Houston secure their third win in four games. The victory keeps the Rockets firmly in the playoff mix, but the night belonged to the veteran wearing No. 7.
Chasing the Ghost of Chicago
With Nowitzki in the rearview mirror, Durant now sets his sights on the Top 5—a rare air occupied only by the gods of the game. The next name on the list? Michael Jordan.
Durant currently sits just 730 points behind Jordan, who finished his career with 32,292 points. Given Durant’s current scoring average of roughly 26 points per game this season, he is on pace to potentially pass “His Airness” later this season, health permitting.
“To be right under Michael Jordan, it’s crazy man,” Durant admitted. “I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish.”
As Durant continues his 18th NBA season on his fifth different franchise, his efficiency remains an anomaly for his age. Whether he catches Jordan this year or next, one thing is certain: we are watching one of the final chapters of arguably the greatest scorer the game has ever seen.
