Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant scored a game-high 39 points in his team’s 100-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. In the process, Durant passed legendary Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Olajuwon is already in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Durant, 35, is a certainty to be inducted as soon as possible after the conclusion of his playing days.
In postgame comments, Durant made it clear he had an enormous amount of respect for Olajuwon. Among Durant’s remarks:
My mom had a crush on Olajuwon when I was a kid. So that’s all I used to hear in the house. It wasn’t Jordan. It was Olajuwon in the house. (That’s) somebody she told me to study since (I was) a kid, and I really admire his game and his journey as a man and as a basketball player. It’s always amazing to be amongst the greats.
Entering Friday, Durant had 26,949 career points, while Olajuwon ranks 13th at 26,946. Interestingly, the next two names for Durant to pass on that storied list — No. 11 Elvin Hayes (27,313) and No. 10 Moses Malone (27,409) — are both, like Olajuwon, Hall of Fame centers who played extensively with the Rockets.
Durant passes Olajuwon
KD to the hoop and the foul!
Durant passes Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th on the NBA's all-time scoring list!
41.0 seconds left on TNT! #KiaTipOff23 pic.twitter.com/RkLJciKCti
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023
Durant on The Dream
"My mom had a crush on Olajuwon when I was a kid… that's all I used to hear in the house" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Qn5Kem4Rl7
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023
Updated NBA all-time scoring list
Kevin Durant continues to climb the NBA's All-Time Scoring List.
Up next: No. 11 Elvin Hayes, who Kevin Durant is 364 points behind. pic.twitter.com/vAt3Whikk2
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 27, 2023
