Phoenix forward Kevin Durant made two free throws with 1:11 left in the third quarter of the Suns’ Tuesday home game against the Memphis Grizzlies to become the eighth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points.
Durant needed 26 points prior to the contest to join the exclusive group. He got to 30,000 in 1,101 games, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for third fastest. Wilt Chamberlain (941) and Michael Jordan (960) got there faster.
Durant had just two points in the first quarter Tuesday but erupted for 17 on 7-of-8 shooting in the second quarter to get into position.
Durant was acknowledged after the third quarter and received a rousing ovation from the fans in Phoenix.
“He’s amazing with what he’s done,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said in an interview with TNT after the third quarter. “Tonight and his whole career — 30,000. He’s such a special player and a special human.”
Durant ended the game — a 119-112 Grizzlies win — with 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting, leaving him at 30,008 points.
Seventh-place Chamberlain (31,419) is next on the list for Durant to catch.
LeBron James (41,623) is the leading scorer with Abdul-Jabbar second and Karl Malone third. Kobe Bryant stands fourth, Jordan is fifth and Dirk Nowitzki is sixth.
Durant, a 15-time All-Star, missed the previous three games with a sprained left ankle.
–Field Level Media
