Phoenix Suns Superstar Kevin Durant When Historic 30K -Point

On By Littum

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Phoenix Suns Superstar Kevin Durant joined the Elite Company on Tuesday to only become the eighth player in the NBA story to reach 30,000 career points.

Necessary 26 points reached this brand through three quarters against Memphis Grizzlies in the Footprint Center. His 26th point came on a free throw with 1:11 back in the third quarter.

“KD, congratulations, incredible milestone,” said Los Angeles Clippers All-Star James Harden, Durant’s teammate at Oklahoma City and Brooklyn. “What you did for the game and what you continue to do for the game is incredible. Thirty thousand points are something that you as a child can only dream of. Continue. “

Only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain scored at least 30,000 points in their NBA career before Durant reached the same milestone.

“I’m happy for him,” Nowitzki said. “I’ve always been a fan of his game. Super, super hardworking. He incorporated some of the training points that I did out of balance shot, the turns, spin movements. Just a fan of how he handled everything and I’m excited about him. All the best. “

When he ran back on the defense after scoring his 30,000. Points, Suns flashed a photo montage of Durant, honoring his performance, triggering cheer from the sales amount of 17,071.

When the third quarter ended, Suns played a highlighting video followed by the honor announced when the crowd stood at the feet and roared.

As he sat on the bench, Durant greeted the amount of recognizing cheer as he was congratulated by teammates and coaches.

Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon called Durant one of his “favorite” players.

“He’s special,” said Olajuwon, there’s 13Th On the scoring list with all times with 26,946 points. “I like his game. I ask my kids to see him play. His dribbling, his ball handling skills. He is a great guard. It is a blessing to have that size. It makes it easy for him. How should they protect him? “

Nowitzki is reminiscent of reaching 30 km on March 7, 2017 against Los Angeles Lakers on a baseline fadeaway jumper over Larry Nance Jr. in Dallas.

“It was an incredible experience for me,” said Hall of Famer. “If you think about how many players have come and gone in this league and to get seven guys to reach 30,000, it’s special. It meant so much to me to see the excitement of the people in Dallas, my teammates. Until that, everyone talked about it. So it was a special, special time and moment in my career that I will certainly never forget. “

Nowitzki, who scored all his 31,560 points playing for Mavericks over 21 seasons, Nowitzki believes Durant will pass on him on the list of the time.

Nowitzki is sixth on the list.

“He is 36 now by crossing 30K now, and he has what 1,500 more to go,” said Nowitzki. “It’s obviously a season for him and he looks good, he’s moving well. I still see him on the perimeter crossing guys over, he has the slow cross and goes to the basket. He does not appear that he has lost a step. I think he will play at least a few more years. I think he will catch me but well deserved. As I said to me, he is one of the purest scorers of all time. “

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Guard Damian Lillard took the time to give Durant Flowers over a time of the 15-time all-Star in the mix of trade interviews before the NBA’s trading deadline.

“I think the most impressive thing is how he has maintained how big he is over all these years,” Dillard said when he and Durant won Olympic gold together in Tokyo for Team USA in 2021.

“It’s easy for people to criticize and speak (express) from the outside,” Lillard said. “But I’m out there on the floor and I put it in and try to get at the top of my game year after year, so I know how hard it is and to see him do it the level that he has done it is special And he doesn’t get enough credit. “

Do you have opinions about the current sunshine? Well Suns Insider Duane Rankin on [email protected] Or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, on @Duanerankin.

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