Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant sat eight points behind Shaquille O’Neal on the NBA’s all-time scoring list heading into Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Fortunately, the fans in attendance didn’t have to sweat it out for too long.
Durant cleared the mark with ease, finishing with 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting, and led his team to a 115–102 victory. He now has 28,610 points all-time, jumping Shaq (28,596) for the No. 8 spot on the list.
After being surpassed by Durant, the former Los Angeles Lakers star was all class, sending a message to Durant and also issuing a challenge as well.
“First of all, I want to say congratulations for passing me to become eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, well deserved. But you know it doesn’t stop here. I probably see you at—let’s see if you can get to No. 1,” O’Neal said on the set of TNT’s Inside the NBA.
“Congratulations, brother, job well done. I knew it was gonna get done, if anybody was going to pass me, it was definitely going to be you.”
"You know it doesn't stop here… let's see if you can get to [1st all-time]"
Shaq congratulates KD on passing him for 8th on the all-time scoring list 🤝 pic.twitter.com/tuQEUHOgLx
— NBA (@NBA) March 21, 2024
While it’s a big challenge from Shaq, Durant has shown that he has plenty left in the tank. However, with LeBron James holding the No. 1 spot on the all-time scoring list with 40,179 points, it’ll be a big climb to catch the fellow future Hall-of-Famer.
Next up on the list for Durant is Wilt Chamberlain, who is No. 7 overall with 31,419 points.