Kevin Durant scores 39 points and guides Houston to victory against Minnesota
Jan 17, 2026
Sylvain Sultat
Kevin Durant becomes the 6th best NBA scorer in history
Kevin Durant reaches a historic milestone by surpassing Dirk Nowitzki in the all-time scoring rankings. The German gracefully acknowledged this achievement by one of his childhood idols.
Jan 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Kevin Durant reached a new milestone in his career by becoming the sixth-best scorer in NBA history. During the Houston Rockets victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (119-110), the American superstar surpassed Dirk Nowitzki in the all-time scoring rankings, reaching 31,562 points compared to 31,560 for the German.
The symbolic moment occurred at the free-throw line with 15 seconds left on the final buzzer. Durant needed just one point to pass his childhood idol, and he converted both attempts to ovations from the Toyota Center crowd. « It’s incredible for me to be mentioned with a legend like him, a player I idolized when I was younger. And to be just below Michael Jordan, that’s crazy, » said Durant after the game.
The moment Kevin Durant passed Dirk Nowitzki for 6th all-time in scoring 🙌
The Easy Money Sniper has his eyes set on Michael Jordan at 5th 👀 pic.twitter.com/Fm9qp1PV6u
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 19, 2026
The legendary class of Dirk Nowitzki
Shortly after the game, a congratulatory video from Dirk Nowitzki was shown in the arena, perfectly illustrating the elegance that characterizes the former Dallas Mavericks player. « I’m not super happy that he’s passing me, » he said with a smile, before becoming more serious. « But seriously, to me, he’s one of the purest and most fluid scorers this game has ever seen. »
The Hall of Famer then detailed what makes Kevin Durant so formidable offensively: « A seven-footer – even though he says he’s not – with a guard’s game. His ability to create his shot, off-balance, off the dribble… Honestly, there’s not much you can do to stop him one-on-one. »
This respectful passing of the torch between generations demonstrates the mutual recognition between two basketball legends. Durant and Nowitzki have shared memorable battles, notably during the 2011 playoffs when the Mavericks eliminated the young Thunder in the Western Conference Finals before winning the championship.
At 37 years old and in his 18th NBA season, Kevin Durant continues to write history with an average of 26.1 points per game this season. Michael Jordan, fifth in the rankings with 32,292 points, now represents his next target. The Slim Reaper needs just 730 points to reach His Airness, a milestone he could achieve before the end of the regular season if he maintains his current pace.
Position(s): Small Forward / Power Forward
Height: 211 cm
Age: 37 years old (09/29/1988)
Nationality:
Stats 2025-2026 / NBA
PTS
26.1
#14
REB
5.4
#101
AST
4.6
#57
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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