Kevin Durant has an opportunity to make incredible history with the Rockets

The Houston Rockets know they acquired one of the best scorers in NBA history in Kevin Durant. This year, he has an opportunity to pass a man many consider the best player in league history in total career points - Michael Jordan.

You read that right. Durant has a chance to soar higher than His Airness. It would be an incredible piece of NBA history that Rockets fans would be blessed to witness.

How likely is it to happen?

Rockets' Kevin Durant has an incredible opportunity

As it stands, Durant is 8th in NBA history in total points (30,571). Jordan is 5th (32,292). That's a 1,721 difference.

Over the last four seasons, Durant has averaged 1,672 points per season. That's not an arbitrary cut-off. Five seasons ago, Durant scored just 943 points due to injury. Let's not entertain that possibility and assume that Durant plays a relatively full 2025-26 season.

In that event, he'd need to score a bit more than he has lately to pass Jordan. That possibility shouldn't be ruled out. This Rockets roster is constructed for Durant to get buckets. He should be able to preserve some energy on defense and focus his attention solely on getting buckets.

That said, it's a tall order for a 37-year-old. If Durant can't pass Jordan this year, count on it in 2026-27.

In the meantime, he can still make history this year.

Rockets' Kevin Durant will climb the all-time scoring list

He may or may not pass Jordan this year.

Would you be satisfied if he passed Wilt Chamberlain? Durant is 848 points away from The Stilt. If he doesn't pass him, something catastrophic has happened.

How about Dirk Nowitzki? The mark there is 989 points. Once again, Durant needs to hit that total or the Rockets' season will invariably have been a failure. In short, there's plenty to watch for this year:

Even beyond the history books.

Rockets need Kevin Durant to rack up points

It would be tremendous to see Durant surpass Jordan this year. Yet, if he comes 50 or so points short, that's fine too. It means Durant had a good season, which likely means the Rockets did too.

Durant was brought in to be the Rockets' closer. Fans will keep an eye on his offensive dynamic with Alperen Sengun. It would be wonderful if they were near equal contributors, but Sengun will be expected to contribute points and assists. Durant is the scorer, and he needs to score:

If he makes history in the process, that'll be an added bonus.