Kevin Durant joins LeBron James with 30-point opener in 20th NBA season

Durant moved into fifth all-time in 30-point games in 2026

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Kevin Durant (30 PTS) joined LeBron James (31 PTS in 2022-23) as the ONLY players in NBA history to score 30+ points in Via @NBA on X

What happened: Durant's 2026-27 season debut on Oct. 22 made him the second player in NBA history to score at least 30 points in a season opener during his 20th campaign or later. LeBron James previously held the distinction alone after opening the 2022-23 schedule with 31 points.

Why it matters: Generating high-efficiency volume scoring two decades into an NBA career keeps Durant at the center of the offensive hierarchy entering the 2026-27 regular season. Climbing into the top five in career 30-point outings during the 2026 calendar year underscores how little his shot-making workload has tapered with age.

By the numbers: Durant recorded 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists on 10-of-16 shooting (62.5% FG) in the opener, accounting for more than a third of the 83 combined points scored by his team's top trio.

What to watch: Durant returns to the floor tonight in Austin for a 9:30 p.m. ET tipoff on Prime.

Sources

@NBA 2026-10-23T20:45:30.615039+00:00

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