Kevin Durant: 31,000 Points & NBA History

Kevin Durant scored at the end of the first quarter during the Rockets’ game against the Suns and became the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 points in his career.

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant hit a 10-foot jump shot with 6:15 left in the first quarter on Friday against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points.

Coming into the game against his former team, Durant needed four points to reach the figure of 31,000. He did it with a pair of free throws and a mid-range jump shot on his third attempt of the night.

Just two nights earlier, Durant lamented missing the opportunity to join the 31,000-point scoring list of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James during a 121-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Needing 28 points in that game to reach the mark, Durant played 32 minutes, but was out for most of the fourth quarter and finished with 8 assists, 3 rebounds and a block, in addition to his 24 points.

“Wow, I could have done it tonight,” Durant joked after Wednesday’s victory when told how close he came to reaching 31,000 career points. Durant later expressed his gratitude for his latest achievement when asked if the milestones in his career still move him at this point in what will be a Hall of Fame-worthy career.

“Yes, they do. Of course they do!” Durant said. “Eight players in basketball history, that’s crazy.”

Durant remains eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, behind James, Abdul-Jabbar, Malone, Bryant, Jordan, Nowitzki and Chamberlain. If the 15-time NBA All-Star stays healthy, he will likely pass Chamberlain (31,419 points) and Nowitzki (31,560) this season on the all-time scoring list, and even Jordan (32,292).

“I am always grateful to all my coaches, teammates, players who screened me, who allowed their shots to find me, who have encouraged me throughout my career,” Durant said. “I had some mates, playing with Russ [Westbrook]which meant a lot in my career. Steve [Adams] It meant a lot in my career. Jeff Green. So, every time I reach these milestones, I tend to think about my peers and the path I’ve taken. Even as a child, a lot of people invested in my life, in my career, and wanted to see me succeed. So I owe them a lot. “I always think about that when I reach milestones like this.”