In Portland on Friday night, a simple swish marked a giant leap in basketball history. With 7:57 remaining in the third quarter at the Moda Center, Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant rose up on the wing and buried a 3-pointer. In that instant, he moved past Wilt Chamberlain to claim 7th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Durant entered the game needing 15 points to pass Chamberlain’s career total of 31,419. He started the night at 31,405. The shot that flipped the order of history pushed him to 31,422. The arena paused, the scoreboard announcement followed, and the crowd in Portland showed respect with warm applause. Durant received a hug from Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter, a small but clear nod from a rival bench to a rare milestone.

The shot and the moment in Portland

There was nothing flashy about it—no buzzer-beater or four-point play. Just a clean, confident 3-pointer, one of the thousands he has made over an 18-season career. Yet it carried the weight of an era. Passing Chamberlain is more than a line on a page; it’s a symbol that Durant’s steady, season-by-season excellence stands comfortably alongside the most feared scorers to touch the floor.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka captured that idea before the game, saying, “No, it doesn’t amaze me when you see the work ethic and what he does on a day-to-day basis.” Work has always been Durant’s defining rhythm—daily reps, constant polish, and a calm understanding of when to attack.

“Thirty-seven years old, and still bending the record book.”

Chasing legends: where Durant stands on the NBA all-time scoring list

Durant now sits 7th all-time. Ahead of him is a ladder of giants:

• LeBron James — 42,575 (entering Friday)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — 38,387
• Karl Malone — 36,928
• Kobe Bryant — 33,643
• Michael Jordan — 32,292
• Dirk Nowitzki — 31,560

That list tells a story of eras, styles, and scoring art. It’s also a map for what comes next. The closest name is Dirk Nowitzki at 31,560. That’s reachable, and soon, if Durant keeps his nightly pace.

Durant finished the game with 30 points in Houston’s 111–105 loss to Portland, proof that even on a night built for history, he stayed in the fight until the end.

Wilt Chamberlain passed: what it means

Wilt Chamberlain’s 31,419 points lasted generations as one of the great monuments in the sport. To pass him means surviving the grind of long seasons and still scoring like a star. It means staying healthy enough, smart enough, and skilled enough to outlast a league that changes every year.

Tiago Splitter, now coaching the Blazers, remembered Durant’s early days and the long road since. “Just a young Kevin Durant, scoring 30 every night, and he just keeps doing that, which is amazing,” Splitter said. He added, “At his age, of course, he’s probably at the end of his career, but just doing that every night is just impressive.”

“He didn’t just pass Wilt—he outlasted an era to do it.”

Efficiency and longevity: the stats behind Durant’s greatness

Durant’s career scoring average entering Friday sits at 27.2 points per game, which ranks 6th all-time. Only five players average more: Michael Jordan (30.12), Wilt Chamberlain (30.07), Luka Dončić (28.9), Joel Embiid (27.6), and Elgin Baylor (27.4). That is the company he keeps in terms of nightly production.

It’s not just totals. It’s the rate. The consistency. The trust that if you share the court with Durant, your team will get points when it needs them. That is why he’s a 15-time All-Star and a four-time scoring champion. It is why coaches still build defenses around keeping him off his spots, even 18 seasons in.

Hardware and history: the full Durant resume

Durant’s list of honors gives extra weight to this milestone. He is a two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time Olympic gold medalist, and one-time NBA MVP. Few can pair that trophy case with such pure scoring numbers.

Add another marker from the same night: he also crossed 8,000 career rebounds. That is a quiet stat in a loud moment, but it shows how well-rounded he has been—scoring first, yes, but always helping on the glass, too.

“Next stop: Dirk. After that, every bucket is a page in history.”

Next target: Dirk Nowitzki and the top six

Nowitzki at 31,560 is the next name in range. If Durant keeps his steady pace, he could climb to 6th soon. From there, the mountain gets steeper, but the view is already elite. Above Dirk are Michael Jordan (32,292), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Karl Malone (36,928), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), and LeBron James, who leads the list with 42,575 entering Friday.

The message is clear: Durant is already among the best scorers ever. Every basket from here adds context to a career that bridges generations.

Game result: a Portland win, a night for the record books

The Trail Blazers took the game 111–105, but the moment that will echo is the third-quarter 3-pointer that pushed Durant past Chamberlain. The Moda Center crowd felt the weight of it and responded the way sports should—by showing respect, even for an opponent. The hug from Splitter sealed that spirit.

Durant’s work continues. Coach Udoka’s words ring true because they explain nights like this one: practice, preparation, and poise. The shot was fitting in its simplicity. No drama needed, just history made.

What it all means

This milestone proves two things. First, Durant’s game still travels—city to city, season to season, it still works. Second, greatness at this level is built across years. At 37, Durant is still adding to the story.

He is 7th now. Dirk is next. And the book is still open.