Kevin Durant Climbs Past Wilt Chamberlain as NBA All-Time Scoring Race Rewrites History

Kevin Durant has never been one for loud celebrations or chest-thumping declarations. His milestones tend to arrive quietly, wrapped in jump shots that look effortless and nights where 30 points feel routine rather than remarkable. But even by his own lofty standards, this was a moment that demanded attention. By moving past Wilt Chamberlain on the NBA all-time scoring list, Durant etched his name deeper into basketball history, even if the night itself ended in frustration for his team.

Durant’s 30-point performance was not enough to prevent the Houston Rockets from falling 111-105 to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center, but the individual achievement stood tall above the final scoreline. At 37 years old, Durant now sits seventh on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart, a list that reads like a roll call of the sport’s immortals.

Kevin Durant Overtakes Wilt Chamberlain on the NBA All-Time List

With his latest scoring haul, Kevin Durant reached 31,435 career points, nudging him ahead of Chamberlain’s total of 31,419. It is a symbolic passing of the torch: one of the most prolific scorers of the modern era stepping beyond a figure who once seemed untouchable.

Chamberlain, who passed away in 1999, remains one of basketball’s great outliers. His achievements are so extreme they almost feel mythical. He is still the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game, and during the 1961-62 season he averaged an astonishing 50.4 points per game, a record that may never be approached, let alone broken.

For Durant, passing Chamberlain was not about erasing the past but about standing alongside it. Speaking before the game, he admitted that Wilt’s numbers still defy logic.

“You see the numbers,” Durant said. “You just can’t comprehend somebody putting up 50 a game with 25 rebounds. You want to compete with that and try to match that as much as you can. It’s amazing just being in the top 10 with him, but to have the opportunity to pass him up, it’s pretty sweet.”

A Night of Mixed Emotions for Durant and the Rockets

While the history books were being updated, the Rockets were left to rue another missed opportunity. Durant was efficient and composed, finding his spots and leading from the front, but Portland had just enough answers when it mattered.

The Trail Blazers defended with discipline, closed out quarters well, and made timely plays down the stretch to seal the win. In a league that rarely allows sentimentality to override competition, Durant’s milestone came wrapped in the familiar sting of defeat.

Still, nights like this tend to age well. Losses blur together over time; records do not. For Durant, who has now scored at least 25 points per game across multiple decades, longevity has become just as impressive as his peak.

Why Passing Wilt Chamberlain Matters

To understand the significance of Durant overtaking Chamberlain, context is everything. Wilt played in a different era, one defined by blistering pace, limited defensive schemes, and eye-watering stat lines. Durant, on the other hand, has thrived in a league shaped by spacing, three-point shooting, and relentless athleticism.

Yet the common thread between them is dominance. Chamberlain overwhelmed opponents with sheer physical force. Durant dissects defenses with precision, skill and an almost unfair shooting touch for a man his size.

Chamberlain retired in 1973 as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a title he held until Kareem Abdul-Jabbar eventually surpassed him. That Durant has now moved beyond Wilt speaks volumes about consistency as much as brilliance. He has adapted to rule changes, team changes, injuries and shifting roles, yet the points have never stopped coming.

Kevin Durant’s Place Among the NBA Greats

The updated NBA all-time scoring list paints a striking picture of Durant’s standing in the game:

LeBron James – 42,601
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 38,387
Karl Malone – 36,928
Kobe Bryant – 33,643
Michael Jordan – 32,292
Dirk Nowitzki – 31,560
Kevin Durant – 31,435
Wilt Chamberlain – 31,419
Shaquille O’Neal – 28,596
James Harden – 28,563

Only LeBron James sits significantly ahead, and while catching him would require an extraordinary late-career surge, Durant continues to defy assumptions about decline. His scoring touch remains elite, his basketball IQ sharper than ever.

A Night Full of NBA Storylines Beyond Durant

Elsewhere around the league, it was another evening packed with drama. In Los Angeles, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a defensive masterclass in the closing moments as the Milwaukee Bucks edged past the Lakers 105-101. Giannis blocked a shot by LeBron James and then stripped him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, underlining why he remains one of the most feared two-way players in the game.

In San Francisco, Stephen Curry put on a show of his own. The Warriors star finished with 27 points and a season-high 10 assists as Golden State cruised to a 137-103 win over the Sacramento Kings, reminding everyone that his influence goes far beyond shooting threes.

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder produced one of the comebacks of the season, overturning a 21-point second-half deficit to snatch a dramatic 117-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Legacy, Longevity and What Comes Next for Durant

For Kevin Durant, the question is no longer whether he belongs among the greats. That debate has been settled. The discussion now revolves around how much further he can climb and what his final numbers might look like when he eventually steps away.

What makes Durant’s journey so compelling is its balance of resilience and evolution. Injuries threatened to derail him. Team moves reshaped his role. Critics questioned his choices. Through it all, the scoring remained constant.

Passing Wilt Chamberlain is not the end of the story, but another chapter in a career defined by relentless excellence. Nights like this serve as reminders that while basketball is played one game at a time, greatness is measured across years.

Durant walked off the court in Portland without a win, but with history firmly on his side. And as long as he keeps lacing up his sneakers, the NBA’s all-time lists may need a few more updates yet.