The Slim Reaper Strikes Again: Kevin Durant Eclipses Dirk Nowitzki on All-Time Scoring List
If you’ve watched the NBA over the last two decades, you know one truth is absolute: Kevin Durant is going to get a bucket. It doesn’t matter if he’s in an OKC jersey, running with the Warriors, or leading the charge for the Houston Rockets. The man was born to score.
Now, that inevitability has cemented him even further into basketball immortality. In a moment that felt both historic and routine, Durant officially moved past Dirk Nowitzki to claim the sixth spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. It wasn’t a flashy dunk or a logo three that sealed the deal—it was a free throw. With 15.2 seconds left on the clock against the New Orleans Pelicans, Durant stepped to the line, sank the shot, and etched his name above a legend.
The Night History Was Made
The atmosphere in Houston was electric, even before the ball tipped off. Everyone in the building knew the math. Durant walked onto the court needing just 17 points to overtake Nowitzki’s career total of 31,560.
For a scorer of his caliber, 17 points is light work. And true to form, he didn’t force it. He played within the flow of the game, picking his spots and dissecting the Pelicans‘ defense. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Rockets were fighting to close out a tight 119–110 victory, and Durant was knocking on the door of history.
That final free throw pushed him to 18 points for the night and 31,562 for his career. It was a fitting way to pass the torch—calm, efficient, and lethal.
From One Legend to Another
There is a poetic justice in Durant passing Nowitzki. Both are seven-footers who fundamentally changed how we look at size and skill. Dirk was the pioneer of the stretch big, the guy who proved a seven-footer could dominate from the perimeter. Durant took that blueprint and evolved it, adding guard-like handles and a crossover that shouldn’t be physically possible for someone with his wingspan.
Speaking after the game, Durant didn’t hide his emotions about passing the German icon. “To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against—we had some great battles,” Durant said. “He always was supportive of my career and my game. To be up there with a legend like that, it’s just insane.”
This wasn’t just a stat pad; it was a nod of respect from one generation’s unguardable force to the previous one.
Longevity and The “What Ifs”
When we talk about the all-time scoring list, we are really talking about two things: availability and dominance. To get to 31,000+ points, you can’t just have a good prime. You have to be excellent for a very, very long time.
Durant reaching this milestone is even more impressive when you consider the time he’s missed. The Achilles injury that cost him a full season, the various foot issues early in his career—despite the setbacks, his scoring average has remained astronomical. He joins LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan in the 31.5K club.
That is the VIP section of basketball royalty. His rise to sixth all-time proves that his game ages like fine wine. He doesn’t rely solely on athleticism; he relies on mechanics, height, and pure shooting touch. That doesn’t go away in your late 30s.
Chasing The Ghost of Chicago
So, what is next for the Slim Reaper? The target on the wall is now arguably the greatest name in sports history: Michael Jordan.
His Airness sits in the fifth spot with 32,292 points. With Durant now sitting at 31,562, the gap is roughly 730 points. If Durant stays healthy and maintains his current production with the Rockets, catching MJ isn’t just a dream—it’s a realistic goal for the near future.
Passing Jordan would effectively end any debate about Durant’s standing as perhaps the most versatile scorer the league has ever seen.
The Legacy Continues
While LeBron James continues to add to his unreachable record at the top, and younger guys like Curry and Harden try to claw their way up, Durant occupies a unique space. He is the bridge between the Kobe/Dirk era and the modern game.
For fans in Houston, they are watching history unfold in real-time. For the rest of the NBA, it’s a reminder that we shouldn’t take Kevin Durant for granted. We are watching a master at work, one jump shot at a time.
FAQ SECTION
Q: What happened in the game?
A: Durant scored 18 points against the Pelicans, surpassing Dirk Nowitzki’s career total with a late free throw.
Q: Who is involved?
A: Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Jordan (as the next milestone target).
Q: Why is this news important?
A: It highlights Durant’s place in NBA history and his pursuit of Michael Jordan’s fifth-place ranking.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: Durant will continue to climb the scoring list, with Jordan’s 32,292 points in sight.
