The beautiful sport of basketball has had some talented players in each of the past eras gracing the court, but only a few seem to be unique in their scoring abilities like Kevin Durant. Durant at 35 still shows why he has won the scoring championship on several occasions.
Just into the new NBA season, Kevin Durant has already recorded a milestone achievement when he overtook Hakeem Olajuwon in the all-time scoring chart. However, just after few days after breaking Olajuwon’s record, he made another headline coincidentally in his millennium career games.
Durant moves up scoring charts
In his 1,000th career game, Kevin Durant surpassed Elvin Hayes to claim the 11th spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during Tuesday night’s match between the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Durant only needed 14 points to surpass Hayes and make history, and he achieved all 14 in the first quarter, making all six of his shots, including a 3-pointer and a free throw. Recording 31 points and nine assists, Durant played a pivotal role in the Phoenix Suns’ 120-107 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
Back on October 26, 2023, Durant moved up to the 12th position on the career scoring list by surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon. He accomplished this feat with his late game-tying layup, marking his 26,947th point. Looking ahead, Durant aims to surpass Moses Malone, currently in 10th place with 27,409 points, as he continues to climb the scoring ladder this season.
Entering the game the Suns held a 7-6 record, enjoying a three-game winning streak, while Portland faced challenges with seven consecutive losses. Durant showcased a phenomenal performance at the start of the season, with the future Hall of Fame wing averaging 34.8 points per game so far.
What NBA teams has Kevin Durant played for?
Kevin Durant boasts an exceptional NBA career, standing among the greatest scorers in basketball history. In his illustrious 15-year journey in the league, Durant, with an extensive resume, finds himself on the more experienced side of the NBA. KD’s professional journey commenced as the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, chosen by the then-Seattle Supersonics.
His rookie year earned him the Rookie of the Year award, and his sophomore season, now with the relocated Oklahoma City Thunder, showcased even more impressive performances across 74 games. Eight seasons unfolded in Oklahoma before Durant made a pivotal move to the Warriors in 2016.
In a surprising turn during the 2016 free agency, Kevin Durant, the 10-time All-NBA player shocked the NBA landscape by joining the Golden State Warriors. His time with the team resulted in two championships in three seasons, with Durant contributing significantly, averaging 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
Post his impactful tenure with the Splash Brothers, Durant embarked on a new chapter with the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2019. A season on the sidelines followed as he recovered from an Achilles injury. Subsequently, Durant completed two full seasons with the Nets before another trade unfolded in his third year.
In a trade deadline move this season, Durant found himself traded to the Phoenix Suns, with Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and five first-round picks going the other way. However, in just a few games with the Suns, Durant has already broken two scoring records of two NBA legends, and now seems to set his sights on breaking more records in the 2023-2024 NBA season.
