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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHouston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, center, shoots against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo\/Howard Lao)<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be amongst the greats is always an honor,\u201d Durant said after the game. \u201cWilt is somebody I studied and tried to look up to as much as I can, a player like that. Like I always say, he set a standard for NBA players and (I\u2019m) grateful to reach that \u2014 and inspired by what he produced for the game of basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Durant, 37, is in his 18th NBA season and is a 15-time All-Star. He finished Friday\u2019s game with 30 points and 12 rebounds, also surpassing 8,000 career rebounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t amaze me when you see the work ethic and what he does on a day-to-day basis,\u201d Rockets coach Ime Udoka said before Friday night\u2019s game about Durant\u2019s impending milestone.<\/p>\n
Blazers coach Tiago Splitter said he remembered being impressed by Durant when he was a young player with Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
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\u201cJust a young Kevin Durant, scoring 30 every night, and he just keeps doing that, which is amazing,\u201d Splitter said. \u201cAt his age, of course, he\u2019s probably at the end of his career, but just doing that every night is just impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the scoring achievement was announced to fans at the Moda Center during the game, Durant was rewarded with warm applause and a hug from Splitter.<\/p>\n