Kevin Durant becomes eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has become the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points in his glorious career. The veteran got to the landmark with a free throw late in the third quarter of a 119-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Durant joins LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Wilt Chamberlain in the 30,000-point club.

“A true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shaped the game and push the game forward,” Durant said after the loss. “That’s always been my goal, to get the most out of myself every day, and the most out of my career.”

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer rated Durant as one of the most incredible shotmakers he has seen in his career.

“He’s probably one of the most incredible shotmakers I’ve ever been around,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. “And I’ve gone against him a lot of nights, too. So, it’s nice to be on his side. The way he can rise up and shoot over people — his height, his ball handling. If he’s not the most incredible shotmaker, I’m not sure who is.”

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant also concurred with Bunderholzer and tipped Durant as one of the greats of the game.

Morant told TNT Sports, “He’s one of the greats. Everybody don’t get 30K in this league. So, hats off to him. And I hope he keeps going. We want to see him out here.”

Durant admitted that the league is all about selling and purchasing after an eventful trade last week.

“It’s just part of the business,” Durant told reporters at practice Monday. “Everybody’s bought and sold in this league. Anybody can be up for auction, so I understand that. It’s just about getting back on the court and trying to go out and play the game that I love. It’s part of the business, though — we’ve all got to understand that.”

The Suns will next take on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.