Kevin Durant has ascended another rung on the NBA's legendary scoring ladder. The Houston Rockets forward moved into sole possession of sixth place on the league's all-time scoring list during Sunday night's 119-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, surpassing Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.

Durant, playing in his 1,161st career game, tied Nowitzki's mark of 31,560 points with a signature fadeaway jumper in the final minute before clinching the milestone with a free throw. He finished the game with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, bringing his career total to 31,562 points—a feat he accomplished in 362 fewer games than the Dallas Mavericks icon.

The milestone prompted a congratulatory video message from Nowitzki himself. "Not super happy about him passing me," Nowitzki joked before adding sincere praise. "To me, 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."

Nowitzki, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, acknowledged Durant's unique blend of size and skill, calling him "a 7-footer with really a two-guard's game."

With Nowitzki now behind him, Durant's next target is Michael Jordan in fifth place with 32,292 points. Barring injury, Durant is on pace to pass Jordan later this season. Further ahead on the list are Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the active leader, LeBron James.

Signed through at least the 2026-27 season, Durant has a realistic path to potentially climb as high as third on the all-time list before his current contract concludes, cementing his legacy as one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history.