KD Passes Dirk In NBA All-Time Scoring Charts With Nowitzki-esque Jumper | WATCH

Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 22:43 IST

Kevin Durant passed Dirk Nowitzki for sixth on the NBA all-time scoring list with 31,562 points, and was celebrated by Nowitzki himself.

(Credit: AP, NBA Media)

Kevin Durant just checked off another name on the NBA’s all-time scoring list — and it’s a big one.

The Houston Rockets star scored 18 points on Sunday night to move past Dirk Nowitzki, one of his idols, and climb into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart.

The more poetic thing here? KD equalled Dirk with a classic one-legged jumper — reminiscent of Nowitzki’s itself.

The milestone came fittingly at the free-throw line, with Durant knocking down two shots with 15.2 seconds left in a 119–110 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Then, the points at the free throw line pushed Durant’s career total to 31,562, edging him ahead of Nowitzki’s final mark of 31,560.

Next up on the hit list? A familiar name: Michael Jordan, who sits fifth with 32,292 points.

For Durant, the moment still hasn’t quite sunk in.

“To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against," Durant said.

“We had some great battles. He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, to be up there with a legend like that, it’s just insane. And be right under Michael Jordan — it’s crazy, man."

True to form, KD isn’t thinking about slowing down.

“I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish," he added. “It’s been amazing so far."

The moment got even better after the final buzzer, when a video message from Nowitzki played inside the Toyota Center. Dirk, in classic Dirk fashion, kept it light and classy.

“Not super happy about him passing me," Nowitzki joked, before quickly adding, “but no, seriously, he is one of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen. It’s been incredible to watch his career. Congrats KD, keep it going. Move up a couple more spots."

At 37 years old, Durant is still producing at an elite level. I

n his 18th NBA season — and his first with Houston — he’s averaging 26.1 points per game across 38 appearances, showing that time hasn’t dulled his scoring touch one bit.

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