Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies may have clinched a hard-fought 119-112 victory, but the night truly belonged to Kevin Durant. The Phoenix Suns’ superstar etched his name into the annals of basketball history by becoming only the eighth player to reach the 30,000 career points milestone.
Despite Durant’s individual brilliance, the Suns couldn’t pull off a win, but the magnitude of the moment overshadowed the final score. As the Footprint Center crowd erupted in applause, Durant sank a free throw that officially stamped his place among the NBA’s all-time greats.
Ja Morant’s Tribute to Kevin Durant’s Legacy
While Morant was instrumental in securing the Grizzlies’ 36th win of the season, he made it clear that the night was about Durant. Instead of focusing on Memphis’ success, Morant used his postgame interview to shower the Slim Reaper with admiration.
“He one of the greats… Everybody don’t get 30k in this league. So, hats off to him and I hope he keep going. We want to see him out here,” Morant told Taylor Rooks after the game.
In a heartfelt display of respect, Morant took it a step further by personally presenting Durant with the game ball following the final buzzer.
“I honored him with the ball, he said he don’t care much about it,” Morant revealed.
The moment symbolized the passing of admiration between two generations of NBA greatness, as the young, electrifying guard paid tribute to one of the game’s most decorated scorers.
Devin Booker and Mike Budenholzer Sing Durant’s Praises
Despite the Suns’ ongoing struggles—having dropped six of their last eight games—the significance of Durant’s milestone was not lost on his teammates and coaching staff. Devin Booker, a longtime admirer of Durant, didn’t hold back his praise.
“I’ve always said that that’s my favorite player…. That’s a testament to the hard work, to the inventor of the nickname ‘hooper,’ that people use too loosely… This is his game, and he shows it,” Booker said.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer echoed similar sentiments, marveling at Durant’s unmatched scoring prowess.
“He’s probably the most incredible shot maker I’ve ever been around… The way he can rise up and shoot over people, you know, his height, his ball handling… So it’s just great to be around him every day,” Budenholzer stated.
Kevin Durant Appreciates the Love From Fans and Peers
Durant, who has always maintained a deep love for the game, acknowledged the warm reception from fans and the admiration from his peers.
“The crowd’s been great ever since I’ve been here…. I never felt that the fans wasn’t supporting me or anything to that nature, so I’m glad that they showed up and showed out tonight,” Durant expressed.
As the Suns sit at 26-27, Durant will now shift his focus to helping his team regain momentum ahead of the All-Star break. With a crucial matchup against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Phoenix will look to even out their record and turn the tide in their favor.
For now, however, Kevin Durant can bask in the glow of a historic achievement—one that cements his legacy as one of the greatest scorers to ever step foot on an NBA court.
I am a writer with a passion for technology and gaming. I write about a variety of subjects, including Esports, Games, Shows, and Sports. I create engaging and informative content for Hiptoro.