Don't take NBA's 'Uncle Brigade' for granted

Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns forward, finished with 31 points in a recent win against the Dallas Mavericks, joining the 29,000-point club.

Afterwards, he was asked about the milestone.

"It speaks to so many people that helped me out," he said in his on-court interview.

"So many people that got in the gym with me. Encouraged me. Sent me texts after bad games. Took time out of their life to come watch me play and be invested in my career. It's all about them."

But then he made a reference to more feats to come because, while Durant respects the history of the game deeply, he refuses to be regarded as some finished star collecting pats on the back in his final days in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He does not like the tone of those end-of-career reflection questions. The end is not near, and so he punctuated his appreciation with a pledge: "I've got more to do."

Then he dropped 30 points in a home win in their next game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

If Durant, 36, has a moderately good year by his standards, he will score upwards of 1,500 points this season.

Along the way, he will pass Moses Malone and Julius Erving, and move into eighth place on the career scoring list, which includes players from the American Basketball Association. He passed Shaquille O'Neal last season to reach the top 10. Anything over 2,000 points this season, and Durant will be stalking Wilt Chamberlain at No. 7.

Of the four legends mentioned, guess who totaled the most points at age 36? O'Neal at 1,333, edging out Malone's 1,279. Erving and Chamberlain were in their final season at age 36, and barely scored more than 1,000 points.

Meanwhile, saying Durant could average 25 points a game is a cold take. That is why he is out here mentioning legendary milestones as if he is rounding third base.