Kevin Durant etched his name further into the NBA history books on Saturday night (February 7, 2026), surpassing Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes to move into 9th place on the all-time field goals made list during the Houston Rockets‘ road matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
The NBA officially recognized the milestone mid-game with a courtside graphic and announcement:
“Congrats to @KDTrey5 of the @HoustonRockets for moving up to 9th on the all-time FIELD GOALS MADE list!”
Durant now sits just behind Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki for 8th place on the career list. The 37-year-old continues to climb the record books at a remarkable pace in his 18th NBA season — his first with the Rockets.
Durant’s Historic Night in Context
- Entering the game: Durant was averaging 26.0 PPG on 50% FG, along with 5.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 2.3 3PM in 36.6 MPG.
- The game itself carried extra meaning: It was Durant’s return to Paycom Center, the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder — the franchise he helped relocate from Seattle and led to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2012 (a loss to LeBron James and the Miami Heat).
Durant spent nine seasons (2007–2016) as the cornerstone superstar in OKC, earning MVP honors (2014), four scoring titles, and becoming one of the most beloved players in franchise history before his controversial 2016 move to the Golden State Warriors.
Rockets’ Situation & Stakes
Houston entered the game at 31-19 (4th in the West) but had dropped back-to-back contests, making this matchup critical to regain momentum in a loaded Western Conference. The Rockets are heavily reliant on Durant for offensive creation — especially with starting point guard Fred VanVleet sidelined long-term (torn ACL) — and KD has delivered consistently, showing zero signs of regression at age 37.
As of the latest update in the game thread (with ~3 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter), the Rockets held a 103-97 lead over the Thunder — a statement road win in Durant’s former building would be a massive momentum boost heading into the All-Star break.
Legacy Milestone Tracker
Durant’s climb up the all-time field goals list is just the latest addition to his resume:
- 16× All-Star (6th consecutive selection this year)
- 4× NBA champion (2 with Warriors, potential 3rd with Rockets?)
- 2× Finals MVP
- 2014 NBA MVP
- All-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic men’s basketball history (4 gold medals)
The 9th-place move past Elvin Hayes (a dominant big man of the 1960s–70s) is another reminder of Durant’s longevity and scoring consistency across eras.
Rockets fans — how big is this milestone for KD in his first season in Houston? And if the Rockets hold on for the win tonight, does this feel like the statement victory they needed before the break? Drop your thoughts below — Clutch City is rolling!