Fans have been fortunate to watch Kevin Durant display outstanding basketball skills for 16 years. Some teams, like the Phoenix Suns, had more luck as they watched Durant perform regularly. One of the areas of his game that has been lauded by many is his scoring.
Many view the 14-time All-Star as one of the best pure scorers of the modern age. Standing at 6-foot-11, Durant is still quick and agile. This combination makes him a threat on the offensive end and a nightmare for defenses. Thankfully, the Suns have benefited from the former since he was traded in 2023.
His scoring has been his ultimate weapon on the court. He's prepared to shoot the ball from any spot in the court whenever the team needs a basket.
This season, he has the chance to make history with his scoring. Durant is in the top 10 all-time scoring list. At the eighth spot, he's scored 28,924 points in his career. It's unlikely he'll move up the list since the player in front of him is Wilt Chamberlain. The legendary player finished his career with 31,419 points.
KEVIN DURANT put up 30 PTS (8/25 FG) & 11 AST for his 7th straight 30-PT game.
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 2, 2023
He also moved past Moses Malone for 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
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He'll need to score 2,496 points to surpass Chamberlain, and that might be a demanding task for Durant. Still, it's expected that he could at least finish the 2024-25 NBA season in the 30k club. The two-time Finals MVP needs 1,076 points to make history. I'm sure the great forward can make history, especially considering how he finished the last campaign with 2,032 points.
When will Durant score 30k points?
Determining the precise game Durant will play to get 30,000 points is a difficult undertaking. There are a few aspects that should be considered first before making a prediction. First things first, is the state of his health.
Last season, the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year played 75 games and played a significant role in the Suns' success. He averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Durant only missed seven games last season, which helped him score at least 2,000 points for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Hypothetically, if Durant is healthy, his availability will make it easier for him to reach the 1,000-point benchmark. Last season, the All-Star forward surpassed 1,000 points before the All-Star break. By the end of January 2024, the star already had 1,164 points.
He had already played 41 games at that time, averaging 28.4 points. That was also the span where he didn't play the seven games he missed during the year due to injury.
Based on what he did last season, he'll need to average at least 25 to 27 points to surpass the 1,076-point mark. If he stays healthy and plays all the games before the All-Star break (Feb. 14-19), he can be in the 30k club in 40 games. That is if he consistently averages 27 points.
Durant will likely join the club around the third week of January or early February. The Suns are fortunate to have the star forward on their team as he makes history next season.