Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant continues to climb the rankings on the United States National Basketball Association (NBA) all-time scoring list on Thursday (21/3).
Durant hit a mid-range shot with little time remaining in the third quarter at the Footprint Center to pass Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal for No. 8 on the all-time scoring list.
Previously, Durant needed nine points to surpass O’Neal’s 28,596 points. He matched O’Neal with eight points in the first and second quarters then finished with 22 points. That point total earned him a 115-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and brought his career points average to 28,610.
Durant is now behind NBA legends, such as LeBron James (40,179), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643). Michael Jordan (32,292), Dirk Nowitzki (31,560) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419).
A video circulated of O’Neal congratulating Durant on his achievement. The video was played on the big tv at the Footprint Center and the Suns TV broadcast.
“Congratulations, brother, the job is done. I know it will be done well. “If anyone can get past me, I know for sure it’s you,” said the former Los Angeles Lakers center while clapping his hands.
Also read: Durant leads Suns to beat Pistons
Durant achieved this ranking increase steadily. Starting the 2022-23 NBA season, Durant was ranked 21st when he played for the Brooklyn Nets. Then he rose to 13th place, passing Alex English, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins and Oscar Robertson at the end of the season with the Phoenix Suns.
Durant defends the Suns full time in the 2023-24 season. This season, he passed Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Carmelo Anthony and finally O’Neal.
However, Durant’s rise in the list of top scorers is not surprising, considering that he first stepped on an NBA court when he was 19 in the 2007-2008 season. With the Seattle Supersonic, during that time Durant averaged 20.3 points on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year award.
He has won four all-time points scoring titles and consistency is the key to getting him to 8th place where he is now. (NBA/Z-3)
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