Durant makes history — The Rockets star passed Wilt Chamberlain to become 7th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list

The Slim Reaper Ascends: Durant Passes Wilt for 7th All-Time

In a career defined by effortless scoring and a “bucket-first” mentality, Kevin Durant has reached another rarefied height. On Friday night, during the Houston Rockets’ matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, Durant officially surpassed the legendary Wilt Chamberlain to become the seventh-highest scorer in NBA history.

The milestone came at the 7:57 mark of the third quarter at the Moda Center. Needing 15 points to eclipse “The Big Dipper,” Durant swished a signature transition three-pointer to push his career total to 31,422 points, moving past Chamberlain’s mark of 31,419.

Chasing the Ghost of Wilt

While Chamberlain reached his total in just 1,045 games—a testament to his era-defining dominance—Durant’s ascent in his 1,156th game highlights his incredible longevity and consistency across 18 seasons and four different franchises.

The All-Time Top 10 (as of Jan 10, 2026): | Rank | Player | Career Points | | :— | :— | :— | | 1 | LeBron James | 42,601+ | | 2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | | 3 | Karl Malone | 36,928 | | 4 | Kobe Bryant | 33,643 | | 5 | Michael Jordan | 32,292 | | 6 | Dirk Nowitzki | 31,560 | | 7 | Kevin Durant | 31,435* | | 8 | Wilt Chamberlain | 31,419 | | 9 | Julius Erving | 30,026 | | 10 | Moses Malone | 29,580 |

A Night of Mixed Emotions

Despite the personal glory, the evening was bittersweet for the Rockets. Houston suffered a 111–105 loss to Portland, as a 34–15 fourth-quarter surge by the Blazers spoiled Durant’s milestone.

However, Durant’s individual brilliance remained undeniable. At 37 years old, he finished the night with:

• 30 Points

• 12 Rebounds (officially surpassing 8,000 career rebounds in the same game)

• 15-time All-Star poise

“To be amongst the greats is always an honor,” Durant said post-match. “Wilt is somebody I studied and looked up to. He set a standard for NBA players, and I’m just grateful to reach that and inspired by what he produced for the game.”

The Road Ahead: 32,000 and Beyond

Durant isn’t stopping at seventh. With the way he is currently scoring—averaging 26.2 points per game this season—the next targets on his list are well within reach.

• Next Target: Dirk Nowitzki (31,560). Durant trails the Mavericks legend by just 125 points and is on pace to move into 6th place before the end of January.

• The “Top Five” Club: To catch Michael Jordan at No. 5, Durant will likely need to maintain his current production through the 2026-2027 season.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka summed it up best: “It doesn’t amaze me when you see the work ethic every day. He’s not chasing moments; the moments just keep finding him.”