Kevin Durant etched his name deeply into NBA history. On January 9, 2026, the Rockets star surpassed Wilt Chamberlain on the league’s career scoring list. Durant hit a three-pointer in the third quarter of Houston’s game against Portland to rank seventh on the regular-season scoring list.
historic scoring milestone
Durant came into the game needing 15 points to surpass Chamberlain’s career points of 31,419. He took the lead with 7:57 left in the third quarter. By the end of the night, he had scored 31,422 points, officially surpassing Chamberlain.
Durant, 37, is in his 18th NBA season and has been one of the most consistent scorers in basketball history. He was a 15-time All-Star and remains an offensive force nearly two decades after entering the league.
Kevin Durant surpasses Wilt Chamberlain and ranks seventh on the all-time scoring list 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rcc0DtcwS2
— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2026
NBA historical scoring rankings
Following Durant’s latest milestone, here are the league’s top scorers:
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LeBron James – 42,575 points
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 38,387
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Karl Malone – 36,928
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Kobe Bryant – 33,643
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michael jordan – 32,292
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Dirk Nowitzki – 31,560
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Kevin Durant – 31,422
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Wilt Chamberlain – 31,419
Durant now ranks ahead of one of basketball’s most iconic legends, showing that his scoring prowess goes a long way. He has played 1,156 career NBA games, while Wilt has played 1,045 games, a number that also surpasses Chamberlain.
What’s next for Durant’s radar?
Durant’s next scoring goal is to surpass Dirk Nowitzki and move into sixth place on the all-time scoring list. Nowitzki’s score is 31,560 points, which means Durant needs more than 100 points to surpass him.
Durant also exceeded the 8,000 rebound mark in the same game. His consistent scoring and all-around performance highlight a remarkable career that has seen him remain at an elite level even into his 30s.
Coach and fan recognition
Before the game, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka talked about Durant’s work ethic, saying: “No, when you see Durant’s work ethic and what he does every day, I’m not surprised.” Portland coach Thiago Splitter, who coached Durant early in his career, also praised him and pointed to his continued outstanding performance.
When the milestone was announced at the Portland Arena, fans applauded loudly, and Durant received a warm response. The moment opened a new chapter in one of the NBA’s most prolific scoring careers.
