By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest milestone achieved by Kevin Durant sends him into an exclusive club alongside LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Wilt Chamberlain.
“It’s a true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shape the game and pushed the game forward,” he mentioned in a postgame press conference, following a losing effort against the Memphis Grizzlies in Footprint Center, “That’s always been my goal is to get the most out of myself every day, get the most out of my career. To be mentioned with those guys, I must be doing something right.”
Durant scored 34 points, including a free throw to reach the 30,000-point mark late in the third quarter. Grizzlies leader Ja Morant handed him the game ball in connection to his huge achievement.
“For Ja to show me that respect, it means a lot to me,” he mentioned, “He’s a young player that I admire since he was in college. I can see a few of the young players in the league reaching that milestone as well.”
“It’s special for everyone who’s around him every day,” said Suns head coach, Mike Budenholzer, “We’re amazed by him, the way he comes to work, the time he puts in, the attention to detail, the effort. It’s translated to 30,000 points. He’s just a special player and a special human being.”