PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 22: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Arwen Clemans/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets hosted a historic moment last night of Kevin Durant passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. Durant reached an astonishing 32,294 career points to move ahead of Jordan for fifth in the record books. Houston won an exciting game thanks to Amen Thompson tipping in an offensive rebound after a miss from Durant at the buzzer to defeat the Miami Heat 123-122.
Durant spoke candidly about being able to pass a name most still consider to be the greatest NBA player ever:
“I got more to go but it is pretty sweet to be in the same category with the greats. A lot of these guys inspired me to come work on my game as much as I can. I been inspired by all these players I’ve either passed or (I’m) coming up to.
MJ is in a world of his own. A planet/galaxy of his own. Somebody that I look up to and respect. Who basically shaped the game for me.”
The controversial reputation of Durant often sees him in polarizing topics, but this accolade puts his overall career in perspective. Few players have ever or will ever be on the same tier as Durant when it comes to his incredible scoring.
How High Can Kevin Durant Reach?
Durant is now only behind four players on the all-time scoring list after passing Jordan. LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Kobe Bryant are the only names currently above Durant. The quote from KD confirms he plans to keep playing and hopes to pass more names on this legendary list.
Recent seasons see Durant scoring a total between 1,500 and 2,000 points depending on how many games he’s able to play. Durant is currently just 1,349 points behind Bryant and should move into fourth place next season if he plays enough games.
Malone is very realistic if Durant keeps playing at a high level and can have three more healthy seasons. Durant could have a chance at passing Abdul-Jabbar if things break right, but LeBron remains out of reach. The best-case scenario would see Durant reaching second place before he retires.
Accolade Reminds Fans Of Durant’s Greatness
The negative stories to follow Durant for poor leadership on the court or foolish moments off the court will always haunt him to some extent. Burner account stories getting exposed for insulting teammates like Alperen Sengun can’t be erased, but these moments still won’t overshadow his overall greatness.
Durant reached a level of NBA greatness that only a handful of iconic players could even dream of. The aging process sees KD still playing high-level basketball and should be able to add a few more great seasons to his resume.
Fans will have to show respect to Durant by the time he’s ready to retire. Durant’s legacy will be complicated compared to other all-time greats, but no one can deny him from that elite tier. Numbers don’t lie, and Durant’s overall numbers will make sure fans always remember his greatness for many years after he retires to leave the NBA spotlight.