By Marcus Thompson II / The Athletic
In a recent victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant scored 31 points, marking his entry into the 29,000 points club. Following the game, he shared his thoughts on reaching this milestone.
“It reflects the many individuals who supported me,” he stated during his on-court interview. “Numerous people who worked out with me. Gave me motivation. Texted me after tough games. Took time to come watch me play and invested in my career. This celebration is for them.”
However, he also hinted at future accomplishments, as Durant deeply respects the sport’s history but refuses to be seen as a star winding down in his final days in the NBA. He isn’t fond of questions reflecting on the end of a career. He feels the end is far off. Hence, he emphasized his gratitude with a commitment: “I have more to achieve.”
Just last week, he scored 30 points in a win at home against the Los Angeles Lakers.
If Durant, now 36, has a reasonably good year by his standards, he could score more than 1,500 points this season. During this period, he will surpass Moses Malone and Julius Erving, climbing to eighth in the all-time scoring rankings, which include players from the American Basketball Association. He overtook Shaquille O’Neal last season to enter the top 10. If he exceeds 2,000 points this season, he’ll be closing in on Wilt Chamberlain at the seventh spot.
Among the four legendary players mentioned, who had the highest point total at age 36? O’Neal with 1,333 points, narrowly ahead of Malone’s 1,279. Erving and Chamberlain were both in their final seasons at that age, tallying just over 1,000 points.
Meanwhile, the notion that Durant could average 25 points per game is a given. That’s why Durant is out here referencing iconic milestones as if he’s rounding third base. He knows he’s still among the elite, with more milestones and legends to surpass. Thus, the 11th-oldest player in the NBA, who is currently averaging 40 minutes a game, views the 29,000 points as just another defender in his way.
This generation of older players is unique, but the shift in the NBA’s hierarchy is underway. Nikola Jokic has ignited this transition. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Luka Doncic. Anthony Edwards. Victor Wembanyama. The league will belong to them. Their names will dazzle on the marquee. Their impact will draw crowds. Their legacies will be hotly debated.
It could have occurred earlier if not for the Veteran Alliance: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler, when fully fit. The NBA has never witnessed this many seasoned players still demonstrating their prowess, still tending the grill while wearing sandals with socks.
It’s a tribute to the progress in kinesiology, technology, and training methodology. More significantly, it showcases their commitment to excellence and their passion for the game. They exemplify a remarkable obsession — true basketball aficionados.
Many of them have managed to stay in top shape and can keep pace with this newer group of stars. Some scoff at modern training methods with traditional grit, relying on just a foam roller and a few months to get fit.
Almost all of them flourish due to elite skills, the wisdom they’ve accrued from early careers in the league, learning from and competing against Kobe Bryant, and the determination that brought them here. They all share a toughness that characterizes their generation. They played outdoors. They drank from hoses and enjoyed food court meals at the mall. They grew up playing basketball outside, enduring summer heat on concrete courts. Their bodies have been strengthened by late-night workouts, THC, and performance-enhancing fabric.
The upcoming generation will have to wrest the glamour and fame from their hands.
LeBron celebrated his 30th birthday during the 2014-15 season. Prior to that season, the NBA had recorded a player averaging 25 points or more a total of 334 times over 68 seasons. Among those instances, only 18 were achieved by players aged 33 or older. That’s 5.4% of top scorers in their late prime years.
But from the season James reached 30 onwards, at least one player has averaged 25 points per game 128 times across 10 seasons — with 13 of them being players aged 33 and older. That amounts to 10.2%. Almost double the previous frequency.
Last season, eight players in their 30s recorded averages of 23 or more points. This marked the second consecutive year achieving this, setting a new record that surpassed the previous peak of seven in 2020-21. Before that, the highest had been six players, accomplished twice.
In 1995-96, featuring Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Mitch Richmond, the oldest was Olajuwon at 33. Additionally, in 1985-86, with Adrian Dantley, Alex English, Moses Malone, Mike Mitchell, World B. Free, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was the eldest at 38.
This season, between 10 and 12 players in this age group could average at least 20 points. Alongside those previously named: Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, and CJ McCollum.
Indeed, some of their achievements are tied to the current era. The obsession with the three-pointer and the spacing it permits makes averaging 20 points a tad easier. However, anyone who watches the Veteran Alliance in action and attributes their greatness solely to this era is missing the point.
Yes, they are being compensated lavishly. It’s simpler to continue playing when the average midlevel exception sits at $12 million, which surpasses everything Barkley ever earned in an NBA season. But these veterans who have excelled aren’t settling for midlevel contracts. They’re talented enough to command significant salaries. And assuming it’s solely about the money for them overlooks the actual narrative.
Observe their gameplay. This is a different level of dedication, one not glamorized like the old-school toughness was in the 1980s. This dedication is questioned due to load management controversies and perceived friendships.
But the true toughness? They remain present, thriving, more magnetic than ever. Many of them lack a genuine shot at a championship. They engage for the money and the recognition. Flexing their dominance. Competing simply because they have the ability to do so.
Don’t overlook what’s unfolding. Don’t undervalue how some of the finest players we’ve ever witnessed have packed multiple lifetimes into their careers. The game has evolved. The universe has transformed. Yet, their excellence and showmanship have persisted. They have remained consistently superb, reliably entertaining.
Eventually, they will be gracefully transitioned off the main stage, if they don’t exit first. The rightful successors will rise.
And we can only wish that the new generation of players pours as much into their craft as the aging stars, that the future icons of the NBA absorb a crucial lesson as they take the scepters: Achieving greatness is the pathway to the top, but maintaining it demands a different caliber of commitment. They have more to accomplish.
