By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sinking a free throw with 15.2 seconds remaining in the game between the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, Kevin Durant passed German Dirk Nowitzki on the all-time scoring list of the NBA.
“Somebody I look up to, idolize, competed against. We had some great battles. He was always supportive of my career and my game. So, to be up there with a legend like that is just insane. I mean, right underneath Michael Jordan. It’s crazy, man,” he said in a postgame press conference, referring to leapfrogging Nowitzki and fifth-placed Michael Jordan.
The 37-year-old forward increased his total of regular-season points to 31,562. Nowitzki finished his career with 31,560, and Jordan is up to 32.292. Further up the list are Kobe Bryant’s 33,643 points, Karl Malone’s 36,928 points, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points, before leader LeBron James at 42,727 points and counting.
Durant received a standing ovation in Toyota Center after rising to sixth place, besides settling at 18 points for the night and sealing a move to 25-15 in the 2025-26 Regular Season for the team coached by Ime Udoka. This was his 1,161st regular-season appearance, placing him at 27.2 points per game, which trails only Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain at 30.1, Luka Doncic at 28.9, Joel Embiid at 27.5, and Elgin Baylor at 27.4.
“It means a great deal to be around the league for this long. It takes you to play 1,000 plus games for you to be in this category, at least. So, I’m grateful to all the people that have helped me play so many games, coaches, friends, family that invested in my game,” noted KD.
Adding to celebrations, 47-year-old Nowitzki went from joking to praising Durant in a video message.
“Not super happy about him passing me. Seriously, to me, he is one of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen. I think he’s a seven footer with really a two guards game, the shot making, the off the dribble stuff, the off balance stuff, I mean there’s really nothing you can do to stop him one on one, he can always get a great shot up that’s just how skilled he is, how long he is, how good his release is and so it’s been incredible to watch his career. Congrats, KD. Keep it going. Move up a couple more spots and keep it up, good luck!” he said.
“One of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen.”
Dirk Nowitzki congratulates Kevin Durant on passing him to move to 6th on the all-time scoring list 👏
(via @HoustonRockets)pic.twitter.com/2nCbl0nSPu https://t.co/XoiVse2rw6
— NBA (@NBA) January 19, 2026
Completing a five-game homestand, the Rockets welcome the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama on Tuesday.