The gap is shrinking. With 15.2 seconds left against the New Orleans Pelicans last month, the crowd inside Toyota Center rose to its feet. Not for a buzzer-beater. Not for a playoff clincher. They stood because Kevin Durant stepped to the free-throw line with history within reach.

That moment pushed Durant past Dirk Nowitzki into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. However, the climb did not stop there. Entering All-Star Weekend, Durant made his feelings clear about the next name ahead of him: Michael Jordan.

“It’s crazy,” Durant said during the All-Star broadcast when asked about nearing Jordan’s total.

“I will say that MJ missed two or three years, just without injury, just walked away from the game. So he could have had way more points than that. I always want to say that, because I feel like he left a lot on the table, but at the same time, he’s an icon, one of my inspirations.”

“So just to be close to him, a spot below him, is amazing. I’m creeping up on him. It’s surreal.”

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Emotion aside, the math is straightforward. Durant enters the break with 31,862 career points. Jordan sits at 32,292. That leaves exactly 430 points separating the two.

Meanwhile, Durant is averaging 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this season. Because of that pace, he is firmly on track to pass Jordan before the regular season closes, with 29 games remaining after Houston’s 105-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. In that game, Durant posted 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 36 minutes, nudging closer to the milestone.

As a result, this is no longer a distant projection. It is a late-season inevitability if health cooperates. Still, Durant’s tone suggests perspective rather than obsession. He emphasized Jordan’s two separate retirements, acknowledging that the Bulls icon likely would have extended his total had he not stepped away from the game.

That framing matters. Durant is chasing the number, but he is not diminishing the legacy. Recent history shows how heavy these moments can become.

When all-time scoring pursuits approach iconic names, the conversation shifts from points to legacy. Every possession becomes symbolic. Every game draws national attention. Because of that pattern, Durant’s calm response stands out. He is not campaigning for the moment. He is absorbing it.

Legacy Already Secured, History Still Moving

Durant’s résumé does not hinge on passing Jordan.

Drafted in 2007, the former Texas standout owns two championships and two Finals MVPs. This season marks his 16th All-Star selection. Meanwhile, he continues to produce at an elite level at age 37 for a Houston team trying to exceed expectations in the Western Conference.

At the same time, milestones carry emotional weight. Durant has openly called Jordan one of his inspirations. Closing in on that total places him within striking distance of a player who shaped his generation.

Because of that, the chase is both statistical and personal. What happens next is simple. If Durant maintains his scoring average, the record falls before the playoffs begin. The only uncertainty is the setting. A home crowd. A road arena. A national broadcast.

Either way, the moment is coming. And when it does, Durant will not just pass a number. He will pass a name that helped define why he started chasing numbers in the first place.