Kevin Durant Surpasses Dirk Nowitzki
In a significant milestone for Kevin Durant‘s illustrious career, the Houston Rockets’ forward surpassed Dirk Nowitzki to claim the sixth spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 18, 2026. Durant achieved this feat with a free throw in the waning moments of the game, contributing to a 119-110 victory for his team. He ended the night with a stat line of 18 points, alongside six rebounds and eight assists.
Nowitzki’s Acknowledgment
Durant’s ascent in the scoring ranks now places him just behind five other legendary players. Nowitzki, the former Dallas Mavericks star and a Hall of Famer inducted in 2023, acknowledged Durant’s achievement through a celebratory video message.
“Not super-happy about him passing me, but seriously, he is one of the purest and smoothest scorers the game has ever seen. A seven-footer with the skills of a shooting guard,”
Nowitzki remarked, illustrating respect for Durant’s unique playing style. He also expressed his admiration for Durant’s journey and encouraged him to continue moving up the ranking.
Durant’s Career Points and Future Goals
With a total of 31,562 career points amassed over 1,161 games, Durant achieved this record in 362 games fewer than it took Nowitzki to reach his previous milestone. He is now targeting Michael Jordan, who currently holds the fifth position with 32,292 points. If Durant maintains his average performance and participates in at least 65 games this season, he is projected to surpass Jordan before the campaign concludes.
Scoring Hierarchy and Future Prospects
The hierarchy of those ahead of Durant on the list features Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James—each a singular contributor to the sport’s history. Currently, Durant is under contract with the Rockets for the next two seasons, including an option to extend his contract through the 2027-28 season. If he remains injury-free, Durant is likely to continue climbing the scoring ranks, with the potential to challenge Malone for a higher place in NBA lore.
