The NBA history books were rewritten on Sunday night as Kevin Durant, the superstar forward for the Houston Rockets, officially moved into 6th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. In a high-stakes matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, Durant needed 17 points to eclipse the legendary Dirk Nowitzki. He delivered exactly what was needed, finishing with 18 points and securing a total of 31,562 career points.
Dirk Nowitzki watches the game between the Dallas Wings and the Seattle Storm during the first half at College Park Center with Mavericks GM Nico Harrison in the background
A Bittersweet Message from the “Tall Baller” The most “BOMBSHELL” moment of the evening didn’t happen during the game, but right after. The Rockets organization played a surprise video message from Dirk Nowitzki on the Toyota Center jumbotron. Dirk, known for his wit, started the message with a classic joke: “Not super happy about him passing me,” before quickly turning emotional.
“Seriously, to me, he is one of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen,” Nowitzki said. “He’s a seven-footer with a two-guard’s game… there’s really nothing you can do to stop him one-on-one.” The mutual respect between the two icons, who battled fiercely in the 2011 and 2012 playoffs, was a powerful testament to Durant’s enduring greatness.
Chasing the Ghost of Michael Jordan Now that Nowitzki has been surpassed, the basketball world is looking ahead at the next giant on the list: Michael Jordan. Sitting at 5th place with 32,292 points, “His Airness” is now just 730 points away from Durant. At his current season average of 26.1 points per game, Durant is on pace to overtake Jordan in approximately 28 to 30 games. Barring any injuries, we could see Durant move into the top five by late March.
Redemption in Houston While Durant’s milestone stole the headlines, the game itself was a statement victory for the Houston Rockets. After blowing a 25-point lead to the Pelicans earlier this season, the Rockets showed maturity in their 119-110 win. Jabari Smith Jr. was the standout performer, exploding for a season-high 32 points, while the team improved to an impressive 14-3 record at home.
Durant, at 37 years old and in his 18th season, continues to defy time. He isn’t just “chasing” records; he is still a primary engine for a contending team, proving that the “Easy Money Sniper” era is far from over.