Kevin Durant becomes No. 10 scorer in NBA history, passing Moses Malone

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) moves the ball up court as Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX — Phoenix forward Kevin Durant moved into 10th place on the NBA’s career scoring list Friday night in the second quarter of the Suns’ 119-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

The 35-year-old Phoenix forward passed Moses Malone for 10th, driving the baseline for two points with 50.3 seconds left in the second quarter. Durant needed 17 points to pass Malone coming into the game — the 1,003rd of his career.

Durant finished with 30 points, but shot 8 of 25 from the field — going 0 for 5 in the fourth quarter. He pushed his career total to 27,423. Malone had 27, 409 in the NBA after starting his professional career with two seasons in the ABA.

"It's amazing to be amongst the greats."

KD on moving into 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/D5YWV3Ky7Z

— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2023

The 6-foot-11 Durant is a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion who has played for the SuperSonics/Thunder, Warriors, Nets and Suns. He played one season in college at Texas before being taken No. 2 overall in the 2007 NBA draft at 19 years old.

He’s been in the NBA for 17 seasons — missing a full year with an Achilles injury — and has averaged more than 27 points.

LeBron James tops the scoring list with 39,124 points and is the only other active player in the top 25. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,397) is second, followed by Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Dirk Nowitzki (31,560), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419), Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) and Carmelo Anthony (28,289).

Durant is 13th on the combined NBA/ABA list, with former ABA stars Julius Erving eighth (30,026), Malone ninth (29,580) and Dan Issel 12th (27,482).