Kevin Durant passes Dirk Nowitzki, moves into sixth on scoring list

Field Level Media|published: Mon 19th January, 24:57 2026

Jan 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shakes hands with head coach Ime Udoka after leaving the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 18 points on Sunday night to pass Dirk Nowitzki and move into sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Durant made two free throws with 15.2 seconds left in Houston's 119-110 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans. That increased his career point total to 31,562. Nowitzki, the former Dallas Mavericks star, had 31,560 during his stellar career.

Next on the list for Durant to chase down is legendary Michael Jordan (32,292).

Durant found it be surreal to be in the company of Nowitzki and Jordan.

"To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against," Durant said. "We had some great battles. He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, you know to be up there with a legend like that, it's just insane. And be right under Michael Jordan, it's crazy man.

"I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish. It's been amazing so far."

After the game ended, a video message from Nowitzki was played inside the Toyota Center.

"Not super happy about him passing me, but no, seriously, to me, he is one of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen," Nowitzki said. "... It's been incredible to watch his career. Like I said, he's one of the purest scorers this game has ever seen. And so congrats KD, keep it going. Move up a couple more spots and keep it up."

Durant, 37, is averaging 26.1 points in 38 games this season, his 18th in the NBA. The Rockets are his fifth team.

--Field Level Media