Kevin Durant Reacts to Passing Michael Jordan on NBA's All-Time Scoring List, 'He Set the Bar High'

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan for fifth alone on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Saturday with a 27-point effort during his team's 123-122 home win over the Miami Heat.

After the game, Durant praised Jordan and showcased his tremendous respect for the legend when he was asked during the postgame press conference if he had a favorite MJ memory.

"Nah, I mean, that's like asking, do I got a favorite Drake song? Like, nah, they just all great. I mean, MJ has so many great moments that it's hard to pick one. He just personifies iconic, God-level, just everything that I believe in. He personifies, and it's kind of crazy passing him up because he's meant so much to the game. But like I said before, he left a few, I want to say a thousand-or-so points on the table, too, with the amount of games he missed, so, you know, for him to be up this high at 32,000 points, I think 14, 15 seasons, that shows his dominance and his longevity. He scored points quickly, man. So he set the bar high, and pretty cool to reach that bar. I want to keep inspiring people that's coming behind me as well, but I want to keep it going."

Building off Durant's point, Jordan was fifth on the NBA scoring list despite retiring on two different occasions and missing all of 1993-94, most of 1994-95, the 1999 lockout-shortened season and all of 1999-2000. Jordan also suffered a broken foot in the 1985-86 season and played just 18 games. He still stands as the NBA's all-time leader in points per game (30.12).

Jordan ended up playing 1,072 regular season games, or the equivalent of just over 13 regular seasons. He entered the league in 1984 and officially retired in 2003.

As for Durant, he has been sensational over the course of his nearly two decades in the league, averaging 27.1 PPG and leading the NBA in scoring on four different occasions. The 37-year-old is still thriving in season No. 18, leading the assuredly playoff-bound Rockets with 27.4 PPG.

Another legend and icon, the late Kobe Bryant, now sits above Durant in fourth all-time on the scoring list, 1,350 points ahead of KD. Durant won't get there this year, but next season is certainly a possibility.

In the meantime, Durant is trying to lead the Rockets to a strong regular season finish. A four-game road trip now looms beginning with the Chicago Bulls on Monday.