Houston– Kevin Durant Knew how close he was Sunday to surpassing his idol Dirk Nowitzki on the NBA’s career scoring list.
Durant needed 17 points to move into sixth place on the all-time scoring list. He got those points and finished with 18 points win 119-110 Above New Orleans Pelicans. The 15-time All-Star scored his final two points from the free throw line with 15.2 seconds remaining and added another career milestone.
Durant has 31,562 points, two better than Nowitzki (31,560), with Michael Jordan fifth with 32,292.
“To be out there with Dirk, someone I looked up to, idolized, competing against,” Durant said. “We had some great battles. He was always supportive of my career and my game. So, you know, to be up there with such a legend, it’s just crazy. And to be right down there with Michael Jordan, it’s crazy man.
“I want to keep going, keep climbing the charts, just see how I finish. So far it’s been amazing.”
Durant’s collection of milestones has not been lost on his teammates.
“He passes people at night,” Rocket forward. Jabari Smith Jr. Said about Durant. “He’s surpassing people in every category. He just keeps hitting milestones, and he treats it like it’s nothing. He doesn’t celebrate it. He wasn’t trying to hunt and get it in there. He’s just hanging out there, and it happens naturally.
“He’s a testament to what a basketball player should be.”
Durant recalled the early years of his career when he and Nowitzki had “meaningful battles”, including in the Western Conference Finals in 2011. Nowitzki and dallas mavericks Durant and beat Oklahoma City 4-1 and advance Miami Heat To his first NBA championship.
Then, the next season, when the Mavericks tried to repeat, Durant and the Thunder eliminated them from the playoffs.
Durant said, “There were times when I hated Dirk in a series, you know what I’m saying. I’m sure it was the opposite.”
As Durant progressed in the league, he idolized Nowitzki.
Durant wanted him to receive the same respect that Nowitzki received.
Durant said, “I tried to emulate all the great players as much as I could, but I learned a lot from Dirk.”
After the Rockets’ win Sunday night, a special message from Nowitzki was played on the video board.
“It’s been incredible to watch his career,” Nowitzki said in the video. “Like I said, he’s one of the purest scorers I’ve ever seen in this game. And so, congratulations KD, keep it up. Go a few more spots and keep it up.”
Durant appreciated Nowitzki’s message.
“It’s great for him to take time out of his day to send me a message passing him on the charts,” Durant said. “It shows how humble Dirk is.”
