In a showdown between the Phoenix Suns and reigning champions Denver Nuggets, Kevin Durant etched his name into the annals of NBA history. Often hailed as one of the purest scorers, KD cemented himself with the numbers of the greats. With 27,393 career points heading into the game, Durant’s 17th point catapulted him into the elite list of all-time NBA point leaders. The ascent follows his recent leap over Elvin Hayes for the 11th spot, which came less than two weeks ago.

As Durant sets up his foundation to narrow his leap to the top, his remarkable achievement caught the attention of none other than the top gun in the segment.

LeBron James applauds Kevin Durant

LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, quickly extended congratulations to Kevin Durant just minutes after Durant’s new feat. Always ready to applaud KD’s achievements, LeBron took to social media to welcome him into his exclusive club. Expressing his sentiments with a fiery message, he wrote, “TOP 10!!!!! @KDTrey5 CONGRATS 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” while tagging Durant.

Looking ahead, the next milestone for Durant will be surpassing Carmelo Anthony at 28,289 points. If KD manages to post games with the same averages, he can easily climb a couple more spots before the end of the 2023 regular season.

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Interestingly, in his initial 1000 games, KD scored 27,358 points on a 49% field goal efficiency. On the other hand, James notched 27,589 points on 49.4%.

KD used to inspire James to be better than ever

In a 2012 interview, LeBron James asserted that Kevin Durant is a driving force that propels him to elevate his game. Speaking with Sports Illustrated, James claimed that there’s someone in Oklahoma aiming to surpass him. At the time, Durant was a key player for the Thunder, while James was inking history with the Heat.

The same year, James received the Sportsperson of the Year award and clinched his first championship. Given these accolades and achievements, James’ profound respect for KD underscores the exceptional caliber of Durant’s abilities.

“He’s my inspiration because I see the direction he’s headed; and it’s the same direction I’m headed. I know his mindset, and he knows mine. It’s a collision course. We’re driving one another,” James said to commemorate his relationship with Durant.

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Beyond their roles as on-court rivals, James and KD share a bond that extends beyond the NBA. The two have been friends since Durant’s high school days. Interestingly, both have won championship rings against each other.