It’s been quite a seven days for historic NBA statistics.
LeBron James’ historic double-digit scoring streak ended at 1,297 games. (And, of course, it ended with spectacular drama.) Giannis Antetokounmpo passed 21,000 points and spoke about chasing the NBA’s career scoring record. And on Friday, Kevin Durant became the eighth player to reach 31,000 points.
Durant had 28 in Houston’s 117-98 win over Phoenix to reach 31,024 points for his career.
“I’m just grateful to be in this position to live out my dreams every single day,” Durant said in a postgame on-court interview. “So many people have invested in my life. I’m just grateful for them. I want to keep it going.”
Durant last passed Shaquille O’Neal, who had 28,596 points, for eighth on the NBA’s career scoring list in March 2024, and there are some pretty big names on the horizon that KD can supplant.
Next on the list is the incomparable Wilt Chamberlain, who, when he retired, was the NBA’s career leader with 31,419 points. Wilt became the career leader during the 1965-66 season (his seventh!) and built on that record until he retired in 1973. He held it until Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sky-hooked the record away from him on April 5, 1984.
KD needs 396 points to pass Wilt for seventh. At his current 25.2 points-per-game average, KD could pass Wilt in about 16 games.
After Wilt is Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 31,560 points. Durant would need 537 to take over sixth. That could take him about 22 games.
Then there’s Michael Jordan, who sits fifth at 32,292 points. Durant is 1,269 points from surpassing him. At his current average, Durant would pass Jordan in 50 games, which means that could happen this season with 62 games left on Houston’s schedule.
As mentioned, LeBron James’ scoring streak of at least 10 points ended in a 123–120 Lakers win on Thursday. James shot 4 for 17 over 36 minutes. The NBA’s career scoring leader finished with eight points — and had the ball on the final possession with the score tied at 120–all. Instead of trying to extend his streak and take the win himself, he found Rui Hachimura wide open in the corner for the game-winning 3-pointer.
When asked about his streak in a media scrum after the game, and whether he felt anything about the end, James was matter-of-fact: “None. We won.”
LeBron later expounded on it in a one-on-one interview with The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
“This is the best way. If it had to end, the perfect ending for the streak is tonight,” he said. “It’s literally who I am. That’s who I am. … It’s always been about: ‘How can I win the game? How can I make the right play and win the game?’ That streak just happened.”
Last Saturday, Giannis surpassed 21,000 career points with 29 in a 116–99 win over the Brooklyn Nets. At 30 years, 358 days old, he became the sixth-youngest player ever to reach that milestone. Next on his career scoring list: Hall of Famer Hal Greer, who scored 21,586.
The list of those younger than Giannis when they passed 21,000 — James, Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Durant and Jordan — represents some of the greatest in NBA history. The magnitude of that company wasn’t lost on Giannis.
Giannis in incredible company. https://t.co/2YRcjF2h6D pic.twitter.com/MqtYQU8vba
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 30, 2025
“We got to talk about who those guys are — the Goats of the Goats… Just to be on that list with them is incredible. Have I accomplished as much as them? I don’t think so.”
With 21,030 career points, his next horizon is far past Greer, though. He’s looking higher.
At the top. LeBron.
“To get to the top of the scoring list is not six, seven, eight years away,” he said. “I think it’s four years away. Four or five years away, four-and-a-half years away — when I’m 35, I’ll be sitting in this chair having a discussion that I’m at the top of the list all-time in scoring. I would have talked that into existence.”
Meanwhile, Chris Paul’s chances of overtaking some long-standing NBA records took a hit. Paul — playing in what he said was his final NBA season — ranks second behind John Stockton both in career assists and steals. But after being dismissed and sent home from the Clippers’ road trip Wednesday, his standing for a farewell tour is uncertain.
At 12,552 assists, Paul lags more than 3,000 behind Stockton’s career mark of 15,806; his 2,728 steals trail Stockton’s 3,265 by over 500.
Paul late Wednesday posted on Instagram: “Just found out I’m being sent home.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged the awkward end ahead of Wednesday’s game — a 115–92 win over the Atlanta Hawks that snapped a five-game Clippers losing streak.
“I don’t want to see CP go out like this,” Lue said. “He’s been a friend of mine — you don’t want to see a great go out like this. But I’m pretty sure he’ll find something. He’s a great player. I just don’t think this was a good fit for what he was looking for.”
Looking ahead, a few notable players remain close to climbing the career scoring list:
James Harden
The Clippers point guard is sitting on 28,269 points, 20 shy of Carmelo Anthony for 10th. Harden, who was the 2018 NBA MVP and led the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons (2017-18 to 2019-20), is averaging a robust 26.5 points per game for LA this season. The Clippers are at the Timberwolves on Saturday night. It would not be a surprise if Harden ascended into the top 10 against the Wolves.
After Melo, Shaq sits at 28,596, a mere 327 points ahead of Harden. Passing O’Neal would put Harden at No. 9.
Steph Curry
Far and away the NBA’s career leader in made 3-pointers (4,133 and counting), Curry has 25,832 points. That is 566 points away from moving from No. 22 on the career scoring list to No. 19, potentially leapfrogging a trio of Celtics All-Stars: Kevin Garnett (26,071), John Havlicek (26,395) and Paul Pierce (26,397). Tim Duncan (26,496), Dominique Wilkins (26,668), Oscar Robertson (26,710) and Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) are all within Curry’s sights as well. And so is …
Russell Westbrook
… Westbrook, now with the Sacramento Kings, has 26,502 points, which is 670 ahead of Curry, who is out with a quad contusion. Curry is averaging 27.9 points per game this season, while Westbrook is averaging 13.5, so there’s a chance that Curry passes Westbrook this season.
Still, Westbrook, who is 17th on the career list, has a good chance, if he stays healthy, of passing Wilkins, Robertson and Olajuwon this season.
DeMar DeRozan
The Kings could have another career scoring leader riser in DeMar DeRozan, who, with 25,690 points, sits 38 behind Vince Carter at 23rd on the list. That’s good company. DeRozan’s numbers put him on a Hall-of-Fame path since every player in the NBA’s top 50, except Joe Johnson (No. 50) and LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 48), is enshrined in Springfield.