Kevin Durant’s Ascent: Can He Catch Karl Malone?

Chasing basketball greatness takes time, and few have done it as efficiently as Kevin Durant. Looking at the NBA’s all-time scoring list in 2026, Durant is now part of the conversation about the best pure scorers ever. After recently passing Wilt Chamberlain for the #7 spot, fans everywhere are asking: how much higher can “Easy Money Sniper” climb?

Fans are watching every NBA score update to see how Durant is moving up the ranks. With 31,562 career points, he’s having a standout season with the Houston Rockets. He just passed the “Big Dipper” and is now aiming for Dirk Nowitzki at #6 and Michael Jordan at #5. While reaching the top five looks likely, catching Karl Malone at #3 with 36,928 points will be much tougher.

To see if Durant can really catch “The Mailman,” we need to look at his longevity, the numbers, and just how easily he scores for a player his size.

The Road to 36,928: The Mathematical Challenge

Karl Malone was known for his incredible durability throughout his career. He finished with 36,928 points, holding the second spot in NBA history for almost twenty years until LeBron James started breaking records.

Durant needs about 5,366 more points to catch Malone. At 37 years old, he’s still scoring over 26 points per game. If he keeps this up and plays around 65 games each season, he’ll add about 1,700 points a year. In this best-case scenario, it would take him just over three more seasons to pass Malone.

The Longevity Factor

The real challenge for Durant isn’t his skill, but his health. Malone almost never missed games, while Durant has had some serious injuries, especially his Achilles tear in 2019. Still, his time in Houston has shown a refreshed KD who now relies on his mid-range jumper, a shot that works well even as he gets older.

Who Stands Between KD and the Top 3?

Before Durant can focus on catching Karl Malone, he still has to pass several other legends. Here’s what the NBA’s all-time top scorers list looks like in mid-January 2026:

Durant has now surpassed Dirk Nowitzki by 31,562 points. Unless he gets injured, he should move into 6th place by the end of January. After that, Michael Jordan is next, and passing him could be the biggest achievement of Durant’s career.

The Verdict: Will He Do It?

Can Kevin Durant pass Karl Malone? The answer is a tentative yes, but he’ll need to keep playing until he’s 40.

If Durant continues to play at an All-Star level through the 2028-2029 season, he will likely find himself standing on the podium with Malone and Kareem, trailing only LeBron James. His shooting splits remain historic, and his 7-foot frame allows him to get his shot off over any defender, regardless of his foot speed.

Malone reached 36,000 points with strength and pick-and-roll plays, but Durant is getting there with one of the best perimeter games ever. Whether he ends up at #3 or #4, he’s already known as the greatest pure scorer of his generation.

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