Kevin Durant Passes Michael Jordan for No. 5 on NBA All-Time Scoring List

Kevin Durant officially moved up to fifth on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Saturday night, passing the great Michael Jordan. This changed the order of basketball greatness. Durant needed 26 points to pass His Airness in the game against the Miami Heat. 

He scored 27 points, including a clutch three-pointer in the fourth quarter that brought his career total to 32,294 points. This milestone isn't just a strange number; it's the third time this season Durant has passed a Hall of Famer. 

He has already passed Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki earlier in the 2025-26 season. For Durant, who has long cited Jordan as his North Star, the achievement represents a lifetime of elite efficiency and scoring gravity.

Where does Kevin Durant stand on the NBA All-Time Scoring List?

With Michael Jordan now in his rearview mirror, Durant finds himself in the most exclusive tier of offensive players in league history. The updated NBA All-time scoring leaderboard shows only four names remaining ahead of the Slim Reaper. 

While LeBron James continues to extend his lead at the top, Durant’s current pace suggests he could challenge the next legend on the list as early as next season.

Updated NBA All-Time Scoring Leaders (as of March 22, 2026):

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How did KD celebrate the Historic Milestone?

The record-breaking moment occurred in the fourth quarter when Durant sank consecutive triples to ignite the Houston crowd. After the second shot dropped, officially moving him past Jordan, Durant briefly raised his arms in a rare moment of mid-game celebration. Despite the personal glory, the game ended in high-stakes fashion, with Amen Thompson tipping in a Durant miss at the buzzer to secure the Rockets' win.

"Four more to go," Durant said with a smile in the locker room, referring to the legends remaining ahead of him. "MJ is the standard. He personifies 'god-level', everything I believe in as a basketball player. To be in that same breath is an honor I don't take for granted, but I've still got work to do tomorrow."

🚨 KD PASSES MJ 🚨

With this three, Kevin Durant passes Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time SCORING list! pic.twitter.com/byqx3AFLer

— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2026

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Who is the next target for Durant on the scoring leaderboard?

The next icon in Durant’s sights is the late Kobe Bryant. Sitting at 33,643 points, Bryant holds a lead of roughly 1,349 points over Durant. Given that Durant is currently averaging 25.7 points per game this season, he is projected to pass the Black Mamba midway through the 2026-27 season, provided he maintains his current health and output.

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Kevin Durant's rise to the top five on the NBA's all-time scoring list makes him the best natural scorer the game has ever seen. The 37-year-old superstar is still chasing the ghosts of Bryant and Malone. His offensive skills are still as deadly as ever, even in his 19th season.