Kevin Durant etched another chapter in his legendary scoring resume by passing Dirk Nowitzki for 6th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during a recent performance. The 37-year-old Rockets star now sits just 286 points shy of overtaking Michael Jordan for No. 5—a mark that feels increasingly attainable given Durant’s sustained elite production. At his current pace, many believe KD could realistically climb to No. 4 (surpassing Kobe Bryant) and potentially higher, depending on how long he chooses to play.
But regardless of final placement on the leaderboard, a growing chorus—including former NBA players and analysts—already crowns Durant as the greatest scorer to ever touch a basketball. Chandler Parsons, a former teammate, doubled down on that take, boldly predicting that even a 38-year-old Durant would dominate a hypothetical 1-v-1 tournament at next year’s All-Star Weekend.
Parsons: “There Ain’t No Help, No Defensive Nothing” Speaking on a recent podcast, Parsons left no doubt:
“If the NBA does the 1-v-1 tournament next year, I think he’s still the favorite. Like I swear, you can’t guard him. There ain’t no help, no defensive nothing out there one-on-one. He’s the guy. One dribble, two dribble, three dribble, doesn’t matter the rules of one-on-one, he’s winning.”
Parsons broke down why Durant is unguardable in isolation:
- At 6’11” (Durant claims) with an extreme wingspan, his release point is virtually impossible to contest.
- Elite shooting off the dribble over smaller defenders or post play against bigger ones.
- Handle and quickness to blow by anyone.
- Excellent free-throw shooting when fouled.
“There’s a lot of great scorers, like Kobe was insane to guard, like LeBron is more passive and more facilitator. Still, iso, one-on-one… if you put a one-on-one tournament of anyone who’s ever touched a basketball, I’m picking him to win.”
Perkins: “He’s Beyoncé on the Offensive End – Flawless” Kendrick Perkins, Durant’s former OKC teammate and current ESPN analyst, echoed the sentiment emphatically:
“He’s the greatest scorer to ever play the game of basketball. When you talk about a guy that has zero flaws, he’s Beyoncé on the offensive end. He’s flawless.”
Perkins compared Durant to other all-time greats:
- No holes in his game—unlike others in the top 5-10 scorers who had exploitable weaknesses.
- Unmatched efficiency: Career splits of .502 FG% / .391 3PT% / .882 FT% (near 50/40/90 club territory).
- Four scoring titles in his first seven seasons, then evolved into a more complete player without sacrificing scoring prowess.
Durant’s Scoring Legacy Durant entered the top 6 by passing Nowitzki and continues climbing. He trails:
- No. 5: Michael Jordan (32,292 points) — 286 away
- No. 4: Kobe Bryant — realistic target in coming seasons
- No. 3: Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) — longer shot but possible with longevity
At 37, KD shows no decline—averaging elite numbers in Houston while leading a competitive Rockets squad. His blend of height, length, handle, shooting, and efficiency makes him uniquely unguardable, especially in isolation or 1-on-1 settings.
Off-Court Echoes The conversation ties into broader narratives around scoring greatness and bias. Nick Young recently backed Durant’s comments on racial dynamics in AAU basketball, while Durant himself has spoken on the topic. Regardless of debates, Parsons and Perkins’ takes reflect a growing consensus: In pure scoring ability—especially iso or 1-on-1—KD stands alone.
As Durant chases Jordan and beyond, the question isn’t if he’ll climb higher—it’s how high he wants to go.