KD Climbs the Mountain (And Probably Tweeted About It at Halftime
HOUSTON — Kevin Durant is inevitable.
Like taxes, traffic on the 610 Loop, and me ordering queso when I said I was "going on a diet," Kevin Durant getting buckets is just a fact of life.
On Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Slim Reaper officially moved past Wilt Chamberlain to claim the No. 7 spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He needed 15 points. He got them. He’s now sitting pretty with over 31,420 career points.
And because it’s KD, he didn’t do it with a dunk (sorry, Wilt). He did it with a contested 3-pointer over poor Toumani Camara, who frankly didn't ask to be part of history; he was just trying to do his job.
The "Year 19" Correction
Before we give KD his flowers, let’s get the math right, because KD certainly will.
A reporter recently made the mistake of congratulating him on entering his 18th season.
“Nineteen,” Durant shot back. “They took a year from me because of the Achilles.”
You have to love the pettiness. The man counts his seasons like he counts his Twitter replies—accurately and with a grudge.
But let's be real: The fact that he’s doing this at age 37, after an Achilles tear that usually turns NBA careers into "Remember When?" documentaries, is absurd. Since that injury, he’s dropped over 8,000 points on 53% shooting. That’s not normal. That’s cyborg behavior.
The Ghost of Wilt vs. The Modern Sniper
Passing Wilt Chamberlain is a big deal. Wilt was a mythical creature who supposedly slept with 20,000 women and scored 100 points in a game (possibly on the same day).
KD is different. He’s not dunking on plumbers and milkmen. He’s 6’11”, moves like a shooting guard, and has been a matchup nightmare since Seattle (RIP SuperSonics).
Wilt: Dominated the paint.
KD: Dominates from literally anywhere inside the arena code.
He tied Wilt with a midrange jumper (classic) and passed him with a triple (modern). It’s poetic.
What's Next?
Durant is now hunting Dirk Nowitzki (31,560) for 6th place. After that? The ghost of Michael Jordan (32,292) is looming in the Top 5.
He’s doing it all in a Houston Rockets jersey, which still looks slightly weird, like seeing your high school teacher at a grocery store. But hey, he’s averaging 26.1 PPG and the Rockets are winning, so who are we to judge?
Congrats, KD. You’re one of the greatest to ever do it. Now, please go check your mentions; I’m sure someone is arguing with you about your legacy.
