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Kevin Durant Makes NBA History in Injury Return for Phoenix Suns

Posted on February 12, 2025 - 7:18 am by

Kevin Durant Makes NBA History in Injury Return for Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns took a tough home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night but their superstar forward Kevin Durant made NBA history in the game.

Phoenix was held in check all night by Memphis, losing the matchup 119-112 despite a solid second half comeback. This now drops the Suns to 26-27 on the season, which has them sitting 11th in the Western Conference standings and fighting for their playoff lives.

While the Suns did lose the game, their superstar Kevin Durant had a night to remember. Durant led the way for Phoenix, recording 34 points, three rebounds, three assists and five blocks. He also made NBA history in the game as he became just the eighth player in league history to reach 30,000 career points.

Of course, Durant entered Tuesday’s matchup just 26 points away from 30,000. He was able to reach the number with a minute left in the third quarter by draining two free throws.

By reaching 30,000 points, Durant joins an elite club of NBA greats. The seven other players to hit 30,000 career points are LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain.

It took the 36-year-old superstar just 1,101 games to reach 30,000 career points, making him the third-fastest to reach it after only Chamberlain and Jordan.

With Durant still going strong this late in his career, he will now look to pass Chamberlain for seventh on the all-time scoring list. He sits 1,411 points behind Chamberlain, and he should be able to reach him next season if Durant is able to stay healthy and can keep his scoring numbers where they are this season.

Of course, it was disappointing that the Suns were unable to win on the same night that Durant made NBA history, but it was still an incredible night for the 36-year-old superstar.