Suns’ Kevin Durant Makes History, Surpasses Moses Malone as 10th All-Time Scorer

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns veteran forward, Kevin Durant, made history on Friday night by entering the top 10 in scoring in NBA history. The 35-year-old, 6-foot-11 player achieved this milestone with a layup that brought his career points to 27,411, surpassing the legendary Moses Malone for the No. 10 spot.

In a game against the Denver Nuggets, Durant only needed 17 points to overtake Malone, which he accomplished with a baseline drive for two points just 50.3 seconds before the end of the second quarter.

Durant, a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, has played for numerous teams including the SuperSonics/Thunder, Warriors, Nets, and now the Suns. He entered the NBA at just 19 years old, having been the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft after playing one season for the University of Texas.

Despite missing a full year due to an Achilles injury, Durant has maintained an impressive average of over 27 points per game in his 17 seasons in the league. LeBron James currently holds the top spot with 39,124 career points and took to social media to congratulate Durant on his achievement.

TOP 10!!!!! @KDTrey5 CONGRATS 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 2, 2023

Other NBA legends on the top 10 scoring list include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, and Carmelo Anthony. It is worth noting that Moses Malone also played in the ABA for two seasons. Durant ranks 13th on the combined NBA/ABA list, with Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Dan Issel from the ABA era also making the top 10.

In the game on Friday, Durant scored an impressive 22 points in the first half, solidifying his place in NBA history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.