Kevin Durant Likened to NBA Icons As He Moves to 14th in NBA Scoring

Kevin Durant Likened to NBA Icons As He Moves to 14th in NBA Scoring

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:22 PM
  • Kevin Durant passed NBA legend Dominique Wilkins for 14th of NBA's all-time scorers
  • Durant scored 17 points for the Brooklyn Nets but had to leave the game due to injury
  • Wilkins has called the Nets star one of the best scorers in the history of the association

NBA legend, Dominique Wilkins has said Brooklyn Nets superstar, Kevin Durant is up there with some of the NBA's greatest-ever scorers, like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Durant passed Wilkins as 14th in NBA’s all-time scoring on Sunday, sinking a mid-range turnaround jumper to move past the Hawks’ legend. He now has 26,684 points.

Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, Michael Jordan, Miami Heat, Dominique Wilkins
Kevin Durant is on the MVP conversation this season. Photos by Jacob Kupferman and Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE.
Source: Getty Images

That incredible milestone was overshadowed by an apparent knee injury, in a game where the Nets narrowly won 102-101 against the Miami Heat.

The 34-year-old finished with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 30 minutes of action.

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The two-time NBA champion will undergo an MRI scan on Monday to determine the true extent of the injury.

Wilkins on Durant passing him

Wilkins, who is always remembered as the best dunker in NBA history, is among Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry West to average at least 25 points in 10 straight seasons.

He heaped praise on the 2014 MVP, saying Durant is one of the best scorers of all time because of his unstoppable jumper and confidence, per Clutch Points.

"He’s a guy that you can’t speed up. You can’t make him play out of his comfort zone, because he’s so gifted offensively. He stacks up with the greatest scorers to ever play this game. It’s as simple as that.”

The 62-year-old won the 1985-86 scoring title, averaging 30.3 points per game. However, an NBA title evaded him and the Atlanta Hawks during his time with the team, per the Athletic.

Durant is now within striking distance of NBA icons like Oscar Robertson (27,710) and Houston Rockets legend, Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946).

Durant reacts to passing Duncan

Sports Brief earlier reported on Durant reacting to passing Tim Duncan - the San Antonio great - on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP passed the Spurs icon in late December and said it was a proud moment of his career.

Durant said being able to pass somebody who had changed the game meant a lot to him, and was something he would happily tell his parents about.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.