Kevin Durant keeps putting up numbers that make you wonder where he ranks all-time, but the Houston Rockets star is getting frustrated with the whole debate. When fans start calling him the greatest scorer ever, Durant pushed back, not because he’s being humble, but because he thinks it actually sells him short.
Why Did Kevin Durant Reject the “Best Scorer Ever” Label?
NBA fans love ranking everything, and Durant found himself in the middle of another heated Twitter debate this week. When one account posted “Greatest scorer ever my a**. Yall like efficiency more than what’s needed to win,” Durant had enough.
The former MVP fired back with a response that showed exactly how he sees himself: “30k points on low fga. Ima coaches dream. Dime dropper, I mastered scoring at 24 years old man. Give it a rest, I don’t care about being the best scorer ever. You are diminishing my all time greatness callin me that.”
30k points on low fga. Ima coaches dream. Dime dropper, I mastered scoring at 24 years old man. Give it a rest, I don’t care about being the best scorer ever. You are diminishing my all time greatness callin me that
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 9, 2025
The numbers back up his argument. Durant currently sits eighth in the all-time scoring charts with 30,571 points, putting him ahead of legends like Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, and Shaquille O’Neal. But here’s what makes it special: he got there without jacking up shots all night.
Durant has shot over 50% for his career (50.2 to be exact), which is ridiculous for someone his size who takes the shots he takes. Most scorers pile up points by shooting a lot. Durant piles them up by barely missing.
The 6’11” forward still has good years ahead of him and should crack the top five, likely passing Wilt Chamberlain, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Jordan in the coming seasons.
However, Durant’s legacy faces questions beyond pure scoring. Critics point to his inability to win championships with the Brooklyn Nets and OKC Thunder despite being surrounded by elite talent.
His decision to join his fifth NBA team when he starts with the Rockets has also raised concerns about whether he’s the type of player organizations can truly build around for sustained success.
Still, Durant’s production and consistency over 18 seasons remain undeniable. At 36, he’s beginning a new challenge with the Rockets, chasing his third championship ring. That third title could quiet the critics who question everything except his ability to fill up the stat sheet.
