Phoenix Suns power forward Kevin Durant revealed his excitement to be among the scoring legends of the National Basketball Association (NBA) after he further etched his name in the history books on Friday night.
The two-time NBA champion surpassed Moses Malone to move into 10th place in the league’s all-time scoring chart with a baseline drive in the second quarter of the Suns’ 119-111 home loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Congrats to @KDTrey5 of the @Suns for moving to 10th on the all-time scoring list! pic.twitter.com/YiT5QEKxMQ
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2023
“It’s a long journey to be up there, to be mentioned with the greats,” he stated. “It takes a lot of work and takes a lot of preparation and a lot of people to help you get to that point, you know?
“So I’m grateful thinking about the people that helped me get to this point. All my team-mates coaches, family, friends that invested in me since a kid, you know.
“All this stuff is cool to do, shows I’m getting old in the league as well. But it is amazing to be amongst the greats,” the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player added.
Durant, who leapfrogged Elvin Hayes for the 11th position about ten days ago, came into Friday’s game at the Footprint Center needing just 17 points to surpass Malone’s 27,409 points.
The 35-year-old, playing in his 1,003rd game of his career, hit the 27,410 mark with a two-point attempt with about 50.3 seconds left before the halftime break.
KD with tonight’s @FanDuel Stat Line of the Game pic.twitter.com/2eytTEBird
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 2, 2023
He finished the Western Conference matchup with a double-double of 30 points and 11 assists, along with 4 rebounds, shooting 8-of-25 from the field to push his career total to 27,423.
Durant, a 13-time All-Star in his 17th year in the NBA, is a two-time champion and Finals MVP. He has played for the SuperSonics/Thunder, Warriors, and Nets, and currently suits up for the Suns.
Durant is averaging 31.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 17 games this season, with 51.8 FG%, 49.3 3P%, and 89.6 FT% shooting splits. He has former New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony (28,289) ahead of him in ninth place and will need 866 to move ahead of him.
