Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns’ star, continues to climb the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Durant made a midrange jumper with 10:22 remaining in the third quarter Wednesday night at Footprint Center, passing Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal for seventh place on the all-time record.
“Just grateful to be in the category with some of the greatest,” Durant said at a postgame press conference. “We all know what Shaq brought to the game of basketball. “To be up there with him is a tremendous honor.”
The 14-time All-Star started the night needing nine points to surpass O’Neal’s 28,596. He tied O’Neal for eight points in the first half and finished with 22 in the Suns’ 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, raising his career total to 28,610.
Durant now ranks behind NBA icons LeBron James (40,179), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), and Kobe Bryant (33,643). Michael Jordan (32,292), Dirk Nowitzki (31,561), and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419).
A video of Shaq applauding Durant on his feat was shown on the video board at Footprint Center and the Suns’ TV broadcast:
Durant’s latest move comes as he continues to rise through the ranks.
Durant was ranked 21st all-time entering the 2022-23 season in Brooklyn. By the end of the season in Phoenix, he had passed Alex English, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins, and Oscar Robertson to finish 13th.Durant has passed Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Carmelo Anthony, and O’Neal in his first full season with the Suns (2023-24).
Durant’s march to the top of the lifetime scoring chart has been thrilling to witness, but it is not surprising. Durant has been scoring points since he first stepped onto an NBA court in Seattle at the age of 19.