Kevin Durant Reacts to Climbing NBA All-Time Scoring List

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant says it's 'amazing' to pass Hakeem Olajuwon.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns weren't quite able to notch their second win of the season last night, though forward Kevin Durant did manage to make history. 

Durant needed 37 points heading into his matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers to pass Hakeem Olajuwon on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Without Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, the Suns looked to Durant to carry the load throughout the night. 

After scoring 30 points in three quarters (15 coming in the third), Durant eclipsed Olajuwon in the final moments of the game:

KD to the hoop and the foul!

Durant passes Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th on the NBA's all-time scoring list!

41.0 seconds left on TNT! #KiaTipOff23 pic.twitter.com/RkLJciKCti

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023

Durant - who was frequently double and triple-teamed throughout the night - finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in the loss.

After the game, he was asked about passing Olajuwon:

“My mom had a crush on Olajuwon when I was a kid. So that’s all I used to hear in the house. It wasn’t Jordan, it was Olajuwon in the house, you know?” Durant said. “And so mom, she told me to study [Olajuwon] since I was a kid, and so I really admire his game and his journey as a man and as a basketball player. So it’s always amazing to be amongst the greats.”

Durant is the only player in the top 15 to play fewer than 1,000 games (987) while also being one of two players in the top 25 to play fewer than 1,000 games (Jerry West is alongside him with 932).

Up next is Elvin Hayes (27,313) and Moses Malone (27,409) before Durant can officially move into the top ten. 

The Suns play host to the Utah Jazz on Saturday.