It is a weird feeling to pull up the kevin durant basketball reference page and see "HOU" next to the 2025-26 season. If you’re a purist, it probably feels like a glitch in the simulation. We got used to the Slim Reaper in the Thunder blue, then the Warriors dynasty, the Brooklyn experiment, and that weirdly short-lived Phoenix stint. Now? He’s in Houston, 37 years old, and somehow still torching the league.
Honestly, the numbers are kind of stupid when you look at them. He just passed Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list—which is insane. Wilt was a mythical figure, and Durant just glided past him with a turnaround jumper like it was a Tuesday night in November.
But if you just glance at his career 27.2 points per game average, you’re missing the actual story. The real gold is buried in the advanced metrics and the "shooting splits" section that shows how he’s basically a 7-foot shooting guard who refuses to age.
The Houston Pivot and Why the Stats Are Still Climbing
Everyone thought 37 would be the wall. It wasn't. After signing that one-year extension with the Rockets in October 2025, Durant has basically taken over the scoring void left by the team's younger rotations. He’s averaging about 26.3 points right now. That isn't just "good for an old guy." It's elite.
What’s wild is his efficiency. Most players lose their legs and their shooting percentages crater. KD? He’s hovering around a 50.2% field goal percentage and nearly 40% from three. On the kevin durant basketball reference dashboard, his True Shooting percentage (TS%) remains above .600.
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To put that in perspective, he’s one of only two players in the history of the game to maintain a career average of 25+ points on 60% True Shooting. It’s him and Steph Curry. That’s the list.
Why the Rockets Bet on a 37-Year-Old
- Gravity: Even if he isn't moving as fast, defenders still freak out when he crosses half-court.
- The ACL Factor: With Fred VanVleet dealing with a torn ACL, KD has had to play "point-forward" more than he probably wanted to.
- The "Wilt" Milestone: Passing Wilt Chamberlain (31,419 points) earlier this January wasn't just a stat pad; it proved he’s still the most reliable bucket on the planet.
Deciphering the Advanced Metrics on Basketball Reference
If you want to win a bar argument about KD, don't just talk about points. Go to the "Advanced" tab. You’ll see his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is still sitting at a 24.7 for his career. For context, anything over 20 is "All-Star" level. Over 25 is "MVP" territory. He’s essentially been an MVP candidate for nearly two decades.
His Win Shares (WS) are also through the roof. He’s sitting at 180.7 career win shares. This means he has personally accounted for about 180 wins for his various teams. That's a lot of successful nights.
People love to hate on his "superteam" moves, but look at the VORP (Value Over Replacement Player). He’s consistently in the top tier. Whether he’s in Seattle, OKC, or Houston, his presence alone adds about 6 to 7 wins a season over a "standard" NBA bench player.
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The Weird Quirks of His Shooting Splits
Here is a fun fact I found while digging through his game logs: Kevin Durant has only averaged more than 20 shots per game three times in his entire career. Think about that.
Michael Jordan was chucking 22 or 23 shots a night for over a decade. Kobe was the same. KD gets his 30,000+ points by being efficient, not by being a volume hog. He’s the ultimate "less is more" superstar.
On kevin durant basketball reference, if you look at his 2025-26 game logs, you see a specific pattern. He’ll have games like the one against Minnesota where he drops 39 on 18 shots. Then he'll follow it up with a 19-point dud where he only takes 10 shots. He plays within the flow of the game, almost to a fault.
Recent 2026 Performance Snapshot
- Jan 16 vs MIN: 39 points, 11-18 shooting, 6-8 from deep. Classic KD.
- Jan 15 vs OKC: 19 points, 7-23 shooting. A rare off-night against his old squad.
- Jan 13 vs CHI: 28 points, 10 rebounds. Double-double machine status.
Is He Reaching LeBron?
This is the big question every time someone refreshes the all-time scoring leaders. LeBron is currently sitting at over 42,000 points. Durant is at 31,544.
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The gap is huge. About 11,000 points.
If KD averages 25 points a game and plays 70 games a year, he’d need about six more seasons to catch LeBron. He’d be 43. Is it possible? Probably not. But the fact that we are even looking at the kevin durant basketball reference page and doing the math says everything about his longevity.
How to Use This Data for Your Fantasy Team or Bets
If you're tracking KD this season, pay attention to the "Days Rest" split. At 37, his production dips significantly when he's on the second night of a back-to-back.
Also, look at his "Home vs Away" splits. This year, he’s actually shooting better on the road. Maybe it’s the lack of pressure, or maybe he just likes the "villain" role. He’s always been at his best when the crowd is chirping.
To get the most out of your research, don't just look at the "Per Game" table. Toggle to the "Per 36 Minutes" view. It levels the playing field and shows that even with fewer minutes, his scoring output is almost identical to his 2014 MVP season.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Injury Report: Before placing any player props, verify his status. At his age, "load management" is a real thing.
- Monitor the 31k Club: He’s currently 7th all-time. Dirk Nowitzki is 6th with 31,560. KD will likely pass him by next week.
- Watch the Usage Rate: With the Rockets' young core developing, see if his usage percentage (currently 24.7%) starts to drop in favor of guys like Amen Thompson.
The kevin durant basketball reference page is more than just a list of numbers; it's a map of one of the most unique careers we've ever seen. From a skinny kid in Seattle to a grizzled vet in Houston, the efficiency hasn't wavered. That's the real miracle.