At 36 Years Old, Kevin Durant Is Quietly Closing in on Michael Jordan on the All-Time Scoring List — And No One’s Talking About It
There’s something magical about watching greatness sneak up on you. In an era where every game is dissected in real time, where every highlight clip loops endlessly on social media, and where debates over legacy dominate headlines more than the basketball itself, Kevin Durant is doing something historic. And he’s doing it quietly. There are no flashy campaigns, no “farewell tour” hashtags, no hour-long interviews declaring his intentions. He just shows up, laces his shoes, and buckets follow. And now, at 36 years old, playing smarter and smoother than ever, he’s within reach of one of the most sacred names in basketball history: Michael Jordan.
Yes, Kevin Durant is about to pass Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. The thought alone is surreal. We’ve grown up hearing “Michael Jordan” and “scoring” in the same breath as “unreachable.” Jordan’s 32,292 career points stood for decades as a symbol of offensive mastery. Six rings, ten scoring titles, five MVPs — his career wasn’t just iconic, it was mythical. But now, in 2025, Durant is closing the gap, inch by inch, game by game, doing it without fanfare. And if he stays healthy next season and performs at even 80% of his current level, the moment will arrive — a game will stop briefly as KD officially passes MJ on the list. It won’t mean Durant is “better than Jordan” — but it will mean he lasted, he evolved, and he scored with relentless brilliance.
It’s not even about chasing LeBron anymore, though he’s still number one. It’s about the fact that Durant, who was once seen as a tall, skinny, quiet scorer from D.C., now stands among the legends whose names were thought to be untouchable. Kevin Durant isn’t a volume guy padding stats on bad teams. He’s never been that. He’s a pure scorer — maybe the purest scorer the game has ever seen. Not flashy in the way Iverson was, not thunderous like Shaq, not overpowering like LeBron. He’s surgical. Fluid. Icy. From the elbow, from the wing, off one foot, off a crossover, catch-and-shoot, transition pull-up — he’s done it all and done it for nearly two decades.
And somehow, we barely talk about it.
Maybe it’s because Durant has always moved a little differently. He’s not trying to be the most liked, or the loudest, or the most marketable. He’s just real. He tweets his thoughts directly. He defends his legacy not through PR teams, but through his game. When he left Oklahoma City, when he joined the Warriors, when he came back from an Achilles tear, when he played in Brooklyn, when he got traded to Phoenix, and now as he gears up for a new chapter in Houston — every time people doubted him, every time they rolled their eyes or questioned his decision-making, he responded the only way he knows how: by scoring.
And in 2025, that scoring still hasn’t stopped.
As of today, Durant has 30,571 career points. That places him 8th all-time in NBA history. Michael Jordan is sitting at 5th, with 32,292. The difference? Just over 1,700 points. If Durant averages what he did last season — 26.6 points per game — and plays around 65 games, he’ll score approximately 1,729 points. That’s enough. That’s Jordan. That’s history.
But what makes this more remarkable is the context. Durant is doing this at age 36. That’s usually when players are winding down, if they’re even still playing. Sure, LeBron is redefining what aging looks like in the NBA, but even LeBron is the exception to the exception. Durant has dealt with injuries. He missed an entire season with the Achilles tear. He’s had calf strains, knee issues, hamstring setbacks — and still, he’s never lost the jumper. He’s never lost the feel. He’s never lost the fire.
This isn’t a guy clinging to the end of a career, trying to stay relevant. This is a guy still putting up efficient, elite-level performances. Last season with the Suns, he shot over 50% from the field, over 43% from three, and was one of the most consistent scorers in the league. There were nights when he looked like he hadn’t aged a bit — 38 here, 40 there, back-to-back games where it felt like he was just floating across defenders. He’s not bullying his way to points. He’s just smarter than everyone else now. And when the legs feel a little heavy, he has one of the deadliest mid-range games basketball has ever seen.
Now, with the NBA offseason in full swing, Durant is heading into a new chapter: the Houston Rockets. A team that has been rebuilding for years now finally has their superstar. KD joins a young core that includes Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., but make no mistake — he’s not just there to teach. He’s there to play. He’s there to win. And yes, he’s there to score.
The idea of Durant in a Rockets jersey might still feel strange to longtime fans, but the truth is, the move might have extended his career even further. With young talent around him and spacing that favors shooters, KD will likely have plenty of room to operate. And that means more buckets. Which means more history.
And still, we don’t seem to fully grasp what we’re witnessing.
Kevin Durant is not just climbing a leaderboard. He’s reshaping our understanding of what scoring greatness looks like. Jordan was the gold standard. Kobe followed. LeBron passed them. And now, Durant is right behind them all. We used to think players had to dominate in one uniform, win titles, lead dynasties, to be considered all-time greats. But KD’s journey is different. He’s taken a road less traveled — and he’s scored everywhere he’s gone.
He scored in Oklahoma City as the face of a franchise. He scored in Golden State as a title-winning second MVP. He scored in Brooklyn during chaos. He scored in Phoenix amid high expectations. And now, in Houston, he’ll keep doing what he’s always done. The jerseys may change, but the jumper doesn’t.
At some point early next season, there will be a moment. Maybe it’ll be a pull-up three. Maybe a soft floater. Maybe a signature turnaround from the baseline. And with that shot, Kevin Durant will pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. The arena may pause. Teammates may hug him. The league will tweet out the graphic. But even if there’s no huge celebration, the significance won’t be lost.
Because it’s not just about numbers. It’s about the path. The consistency. The grind. It’s about scoring with purpose, with grace, with patience. It’s about proving that greatness comes in many forms — sometimes loud, sometimes silent, but always undeniable.
There’s a reason KD is still feared. A reason defenders still flinch when he catches the ball. A reason coaches still scheme their entire game plans around limiting him. He’s not just some vet holding on. He’s still that guy. And whether you’ve loved him, criticized him, doubted him, or rooted for him, you can’t ignore him. Not anymore. Not when he’s standing shoulder to shoulder with the icons of the game, rewriting the history books one jumper at a time.
So the next time you see Durant step on the court, know that you’re watching something rare. Know that the quiet kid from Seat Pleasant, Maryland, has become one of the most prolific scorers in the history of professional basketball. And know that, with just a few more games, a few more buckets, he’ll do what once seemed impossible — pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list.
And he’ll do it just the way he’s done everything else in his career: with calm, with craft, and with that same smooth release that’s defined an era.