However, as far as the all-time scoring list goes, does the Slim Reaper have it in him to finish his career ahead of Kareem Abdul Jabbar? Well, Durant wouldn’t rule out that possibility, but also recognized the difficulty of such an endeavor.
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What it would take for KD to be in Kareem’s territory
As it is right now, only Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Karl Malone stand between Durant and Abdul-Jabbar. The Houston Rockets forward needs more than 6,000 points to move past Cap and officially be the second in the all-time list behind LeBron James.
Still, KD knows it’s not going to be a walk in the park.
“Nah,” Durant said, shaking his head when asked if he thinks he could catch the legendary Lakers center. “Man, I mean, I never wanna say never, but those dudes set the bar so high, man. I think, just about the top 3 or 4, you gotta play at least 20 years in the league to reach that. Add that you still be at that level for 15 to 20 years, so I’m looking at it more so like that.”
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“Play 20 years in the league and see where I end up. If I end up there, it’s cool. But if it’s not, I just want to be around and be in the league,” added the two-time finals MVP.
As KD mentioned, getting there is about longevity and consistency. One had to play for at least two decades to accumulate scoring numbers like that. The fewest seasons played in the top five are MJ (15) and Malone (19). Bryant and Abdul-Jabbar didn’t retire until after their 20th season, while LBJ is still going at it in his 23rd.
Well, hoops fans know that His Airness and The Mailman were practically outliers in this conversation. Jordan owns the highest career scoring average (30.1), while Malone rarely missed games. Up until his last year with the Purple and Gold, Karl missed only 10 contests in 18 seasons, allowing him to pad his scoring totals, averaging 25.4 points per game with the Utah Jazz.
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Doing the math
Coming up with 6,000-plus points is not the biggest issue for Durant. It’s the fact that the clock is ticking, and a lot of things can happen between now and a hypothetical 20th season. KD already played 18 (missed 2019-20 for Achilles rehab), but had an extensive injury history that might cut his playing years short.
But then again, it’s doable. Assuming KD will average 25 for the rest of his playing days, it will take him 266 games to surpass Kareem. That’s over three seasons’ worth of games, which means Durant should be into his 22nd season, considering he might also be missing some contests here and there.
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That’s where the optimism thins out, as KD himself knows. Durant turning 37 changes the math in subtle but unforgiving ways. Scoring titles excuse a bad month, but all-time ladders do not. Every missed back-to-back quietly stretches the timeline. Even Malone, who was relatively healthy his entire career, was out of commission for 40 games in his final season!
Moreover, there is also the possibility of a role shift waiting in the corner for older guys. As the years pile up, even elite scorers like Durant trade volume for efficiency. He can still get 25 on any given night, but maintaining that pace while remaining available is a challenge in itself.
Catching Kareem would require not just scoring chops but durability and availability. KD can hold his own in the scoring department, but forcing your body to go through hell like that could change the dynamics of the pursuit altogether.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.