10th all-time on the NBA scoring list

In the closing seconds of the first half in a losing home game against Denver, Kevin Durant made a driving baseline layup and then recorded his career 27,411 points.  With that, he broke the NBA’s original Chairman of the Boards Moses Malone’s record of 27,409 points and moved up to number 10 on the NBA’s all-time scoring leaders.

On his 17th season, the 35-year old KD, who was picked 2nd in the 2007 Draft, was playing his 1,003rd career game that day.   On the combined ABA/NBA scoring list, KD is ranked 13th, thus confirming his status as among the greats of the game.

Both KD and Malone had something in common as they played their first professional game at 19 years old.  Both were 6-10 and have huge wingspans.

KD, after his first nine seasons, joined Golden State which was led by All-Star Stephen Curry and won his first league championship. Likewise, Malone, after his first eight seasons, joined the Philadelphia 76ers that was led by Julius “Dr. J” Erving where he also won his first title.

Both won the Finals MVP in their first Finals appearance with those teams.  KD is a 13-time All Star, Malone a 12-time All Star. Malone retired at age 39. Barring any major health issues, KD could also do the same when he gets to that age.

But both have different playing styles and positions.

Fifth on the NBA’s all-time rebounding list, the 3-time league MVP (1979, 1983, 1983) Malone played center and was a bully inside the paint, dominating the middle with his 260-pound frame.

The 240-pound wiry KD is a forward but handles the ball like a guard and can shoot from midrange as well as from beyond the arc.  He was the 2014 league MVP and is a four-time league scoring champion.

KD is one of only nine players that had shot at least 50% from the field, 40% from beyond the three point line and 90% from the free throw line. The 50-40-90 club list includes retired legends Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Mark Price. Among the active players, the list includes Curry, of course, Malcolm Brogdon and Kyrie Irving.

With the achievement KD said, “It’s a long journey to be up there, to be mentioned with the greats. It takes a lot of work, takes a lot of preparation and a lot of people to help you get to that point.”

“It shows you are getting old in the league as well but it’s amazing to be amongst the greats,” he added.

As of this writing, KD has 27,450 points and he needs 839 points to overtake Carmelo.  With his current scoring average of 31 points, KD only needs 28 games to crash at 9th all-time.  By season’s end, he could dislodge Shaq at 8th.