Applause As Durant Sets New NBA Record
Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, achieving the milestone in the 119-112 against Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
The Phoenix Suns forward joined the likes of LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain in the list of NBA players in the 30,000-point club.
Durant is averaging about 27 points per game while shooting 52% in his 17th NBA season.
He scored 17,566 points over his first nine seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he notched 5, 374 for the Golden State Warriors, 3, 744 for Brooklyn Nets, and 3, 324 for the Phoenix Suns.
The 15-time All-Star has averaged at least 20 points in every season, scoring 27.1 points per game this season while shooting 52.8% from the field.
Durant was delighted to join the league of great players to have recorded 30, 000 points, while aiming to do more.
He said: “It’s a true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shape the game and pushed the game forward. That’s always been my goal is to get the most out of myself every day, get the most out of my career. To be mentioned with those guys, I must be doing something right.”
The Phoenix Suns coach, Mike Budenholzer was full of praise for Durant after his stunning performance against the Memphis Grizzlies.
He said: “He’s probably one of the most incredible shotmakers I’ve ever been around. And I’ve gone against him a lot of nights, too. So, it’s nice to be on his side. The way 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.”
Durant reached the milestone in his 1,101st career game – the exact same number as Abdul-Jabbar. Only Chamberlain (941) and Jordan (960) got there faster.
He is now at 30,008 career points, he will be hoping to add to the tally when the Phoenix Suns take on Houston Rockets on Thursday at the Toyota Center.
Durant has won two NBA championships, four Olympic gold medals, an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, two Finals MVP Awards, two NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA scoring titles.
8 Players Who Have Recorded 30, 000 Points In The NBA
LeBron James
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Karl Malone
Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
Dirk Nowitzki
Wilt Chamberlain
Kevin Durant
Applause As Durant Sets New NBA Record is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
