The Kevin Durant scoring chase has officially entered historic territory. After joining the Houston Rockets in one of the most shocking offseason moves in years, the future Hall of Famer is not just aiming another deep playoff run: he’s chasing immortality.
With 30,571 career points, Durant stands eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Only seven players have ever scored more, and a few of the players that list —Wilt Chamberlain (31,419), Dirk Nowitzki (31,560), and Michael Jordan (32,292) —are within reach. If Durant maintains his career scoring average (27.2 points per game) and stays healthy, he could pass all three by the end of the 2025-26 season.
Kevin Durant Eyes Historic Scoring Milestone With Rockets
Even at 37 years old, Durant’s production remains elite.
Last season, with the Phoenix Suns, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from deep. He remains one of the league’s most efficient scorers, combining footwork, shot variety, and spacing instincts that few players in history have matched.
Now in Houston, Durant will be expanding his role. Rockets head Ime Udoka has empowered him to be the hybrid forward and secondary playmaker that they sorely lacked last season. In this offense, Durant doesn’t need to force shots. Instead, he creates balance, manipulating defenses and opening space for the next generation: rising stars Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Udoka has described Durant as a stabilizing presence — a player who makes young teammates better simply by commanding respect. That dynamic has already been visible in the preseason, where Houston’s offense has looked more fluid and disciplined than in recent years. Though his numbers will shape history, his leadership is shaping the present.
Passing Jordan and Redefining Legacy
Durant’s climb towards Jordan carries more meaning than just statistics. Jordan’s 32,292 career points once seemed untouchable, a testament to consistency and dominance. For Durant to surpass him, he’ll need to score 1,721 points, the equivalent of averaging 21.0 points per game across 82 contests.
If achieved, Durant would rise to fifth place all-time, trailing only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Kobe Bryant. It would cement his reputation as not just a generational scorer but one of the most durable and productive players in NBA history.
Durant’s career hasn’t been without adversity (two major injuries, team changes, and constant scrutiny) but what’s defined him most is longevity. The fact that, nearly two decades into his career, he’s still averaging All-NBA numbers speaks volumes. Surpassing Jordan would symbolize greatness and endurance.
What It Means for Houston
For the Rockets, Durant’s presence represents a cultural shift. A franchise that spent years developing youth now has a living legend guiding the transition into contention. Sengun has called Durant “a master of patience”, while Thompson recently told reporters (h/t Reddit) that “KD makes everything feel easier: reads, spacing, even confidence.”
The Rockets’ fan base has also embraced the moment. Toyota Center ticket sales have climbed since the trade, and league broadcasts featuring Houston have seen higher viewership. But beyond marketing, there’s a basketball transformation underway; a belief that this roster, anchored by Durant’s experience and the youth’s hunger, can compete with the West’s best.
If Durant passes Jordan while wearing Rockets red, it will mark one of the most memorable milestones in franchise history, a moment that bridges the team’s promising future with one of the game’s timeless legends.
Last Word On The Road Ahead
Assuming good health, Durant could reach Jordan’s mark by late March 2026, possibly during a home stand that includes games against the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies. Whether or not that night happens in Houston, it’s destined to be a global NBA event; the moment a 37-year-old forward defied time, critics, and expectation.
Again, the Durant scoring chase isn’t just about numbers on a scoreboard. It’s about mastery over time, a player rewriting history one jumper at a time, and a city ready to witness it all.
© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The post Kevin Durant Eyes Historic Milestone with Rockets appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.