On March 20, 2024, Kevin Durant cemented his place in NBA history when he passed Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal on the league’s all-time scoring list.
With a smooth 16-foot jumper in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers, Durant moved into the number 8 spot for total career points scored.
KD’s Steady Climb Up the Record Books
Durant‘s achievement was the latest in a steady climb up the NBA scoring ranks over the past few seasons.
He began the 2022-23 season ranked 21st all-time, but quickly ascended with his reliable offensive production. By the end of the season, he had leapfrogged legends like Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, and Tim Duncan.
In his first full season with the Phoenix Suns in 2023-24, Durant continued his rapid rise. With his trademark versatility and efficiency, he passed the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, and Carmelo Anthony.
The Path to 28,610 Career Points
Durant has scored his nearly 29,000 career points in a variety of ways.
He can blow by defenders and finish strong at the rim, pulling up smoothly for midrange jumpers, or rising up from deep. This scoring diversity makes KD nearly impossible to defend.
- 9,817 made field goals (17th all-time)
- 1,997 made 3-pointers (16th all-time)
- 6,957 made free throws (10th all-time)
Unlike some other one-dimensional scorers, Durant boasts impressive numbers both inside and outside the arc.
He has over 3,200 made midrange jumpers, his specialty, but has also finished over 3,000 shots in the restricted area on drives to the basket.
From behind the line, his 38.7% career 3-point percentage keeps defenses honest.
What Makes Durant Such a Special Scorer
Simply put, Kevin Durant can score from literally anywhere on the court.
He is a master at getting to his spots, rising up over defenders, and draining jumpers. His height, length, and athletic fluidity make his shot nearly unblockable.
Durant is also tremendously efficient. His career true shooting percentage of 61.3% ranks 13th all-time.
He averaged over 25 points per game for 12 straight seasons in his prime while rarely forcing the issue.
The Impact of Injuries
For as steadily as Durant has climbed the rankings, his ascent could have been even faster if not for some ill-timed injuries.
He missed the entire 2014-15 season with a Jones fracture in his right foot. Later Achilles and ACL tears also sidelined him for more than a season total.
As such, Durant’s seasons played total ranks just 513th in NBA history.
The missed time has likely cost him multiple scoring titles and thousands of additional points already.
How High Can Durant Climb the All-Time List?
At age 35, Kevin Durant likely has several elite seasons still ahead of him. If he can stay healthy, he should have little trouble reaching over 32,000 career points to pass Michael Jordan for 4th all-time.
Catching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 38,387 points is unrealistic. But with his polished offensive skill set, KD could realistically overtake Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant to reach 3rd on the NBA scoring charts if he plays into his late 30s.
Sources:
www.nba.com/news/kevin-durant-shaquille-oneal-no-8-scoring-list
www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kevin-durant-passes-shaquille-oneal-for-eighth-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list/
basketnews.com/news-203534-kevin-durant-passes-shaquille-oneal-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list.html
