Kevin Durant, a figure so iconic that the mere mention of his name conjures images of stellar jump shots and dazzling court maneuvers, has ascended into the stratosphere of basketball immortality. Achieving what only seven other mortals have managed before him, Durant has slickly slid his way into the 30,000-point club. This prestigious milestone is more exclusive than a VIP party in the Hollywood Hills, and it’s no small feat for the lanky phoenix blazing trails—or rather, courts—for the Phoenix Suns.
Durant’s triumphant entrance into this realm of legends was heralded by a silent yet resounding swish of the net from a free throw during the Suns’ encounter with the Memphis Grizzlies at the Footprint Center. Though the Suns fell 119-112 to their opponents, Durant’s individual victory overshadowed the scoreboard. Adding 34 points to his illustrious name—with the glitz of three rebounds and a triad of assists—Durant turned an ordinary Tuesday night into a historic celebration.
As a 36-year-old veteran channeling the spirit of a tenacious rookie, Durant has further adorned his kingly résumé, already generously studded with accolades. Notably, Topps Now is commemorating this monumental feat with the release of a special, limited-edition trading card, paying tribute to Durant’s place amongst basketball’s demigods.
Topps Now’s tribute card showcases Durant in all his resplendent glory, donning an unlicensed yet striking “35” jersey. The card captures the ethos of the Suns with its vibrant orange, brooding black, and a dash of purple, inherently making it an art piece worthy of its legendary subject. Starting at a tantalizing $11.99, the card is accessible, yet it offers tantalizing opportunities for collectors to strike gold—or even rarer parallels like Green, Blue, Gold, Orange, Black, Red, and the elusive SuperFractor 1/1, which is the Ned Stark of this Game of Thrillers.
Durant’s monumental accomplishment lands him among basketball royalty, joining the ranks of LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and six others. It’s akin to joining the Knights of the Round Table, minus the medieval haircuts and dragon battles—although a tight match against LeBron could arguably qualify as the latter. He’s logged this achievement in 1,101 games, syncing majestically with the rhythm of Kareem’s own journey. For those keeping score, only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan sprinted to this goal faster, with Wilt proverbially leaping skyscrapers in a single bound at 941 games, and Jordan—Air apparent—gliding to it in 960.
Reflecting on this quintessential career crescendo, Durant’s humility shines brighter than the arena’s spotlights, as he offers heartfelt words to NBA.com. “It’s a true honor,” he professed, standing in awe amongst the titans that came before him, whose indelible mark on basket and ball has elevated the sport to high art.
The big 30,000th point, achieved through precision and perhaps some metaphysical alignment of stars, came in the second half following a foul by Memphis’ Brandon Clarke. With the cool of a seasoned marksman, Durant transformed this free throw into a tableau moment, a stroke in the grand painting of his career—unperturbed, flawless.
Consider that Durant’s story is far from its denouement. Even amidst injury interludes and the ceaseless demands of the NBA’s grueling schedule, Durant forges onward, ever honing his craft like a basketball-bound Sisyphus. The question softly whispered amongst spectators and statisticians alike isn’t if he will add to his tally but simply: how high will this towering human giraffe soar? Will he eclipse other greats and stand atop the scoring peak, looking down from basketball’s Everest?
His journey onward from 30,000 promises newfound triumphs and back-to-back Instagrammable moments, ensuring that every Dunk-a-doodle-doo and three-point rainbow shot will be charted and cherished. Durant’s narrative continues to script itself in the present tense, with suspenseful page-turners poised to capture audiences anew. For us mere mortals keeping our eyes on the court, following this saga feels like partaking in a masterclass on basketball excellence, where every chapter is steeped in both legend and delightful anticipation.
