Kevin Durant Joins Exclusive 30,000-Point Club Amid Loss

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points during the Phoenix Suns‘ 119-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. The milestone was achieved with a free throw late in the third quarter, solidifying Durant’s status as one of the league’s all-time great scorers.

At 36 years old, Durant scored a game-high 34 points, shooting 66.7% from the field and contributing three rebounds, three assists, and five blocks in 43 minutes. “It’s a true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shape the game and pushed the game forward,” Durant said postgame. “That’s always been my goal: to get the most out of myself every day and the most out of my career.”

With this accomplishment, Durant joins a select group of NBA legends, including LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Wilt Chamberlain. Julie Erving is also recognized for achieving a combined 30,026 points in the NBA and ABA. All except James, who remains active, are enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Durant entered the game needing just 26 points to hit the 30,000 mark, and he did so in his 1,101st game, making him joint-third fastest in NBA history to achieve this feat, alongside Abdul-Jabbar. Only Chamberlain (941 games) and Jordan (960 games) achieved the milestone faster.

“We’re amazed by him,” said Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer. “The way he comes to work, the time he puts in, and the effort, it’s translated to 30,000 points. He’s just a special player and a special human being.” Budenholzer praised Durant’s scoring talents, adding, “He can rise up and shoot over people — his height, his ball handling. If he’s not the most incredible shotmaker, I’m not sure who is.”

In response to acknowledging his incredible accomplishment, Durant remained humble: “Especially those two,” referring to accolades from Nowitzki and Hakeem Olajuwon. “I’ve just always been inspired by the greats, always wanted to reach their level. This is an exciting time to be an NBA player.”

Despite Durant’s historic performance, the Suns struggled against the Grizzlies, who established a significant early lead. Phoenix managed to narrow the gap in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell short. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who led Memphis with 26 points, remarked on Durant’s achievement: “He’s one of the greats. Everybody doesn’t get 30K in this league, so hats off to him. And I hope he keeps going. We want to see him out here.”

As Durant continues to add to his impressive scoring total, his goal shifts to surpassing other legends ahead of him on the all-time scoring list, including Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki. With an average of 26.9 points per game this season, Durant remains a key asset for the Suns as they look to improve their standings.