Durant moves past his 'idol,' Dirk Nowitzki, into 6th place on the NBA's career scoring list

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant knew Sunday exactly how close he was to surpassing his idol, Dirk Nowitzki, on the NBA’s career scoring list.

Durant needed the 17 points to move past Nowitzki into sixth place on the all-time scorer list. Durant got those points and finished with 18 in a 119-110 win over New Orleans. The 15-time All-Star scored his final two points from the free throw line with 15.2 seconds remaining and added another career highlight.

Durant has 31,562 points, two better than Nowitzki (31,560), with Michael Jordan in fifth place at 32,292.

“To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against,” Durant said. “We had some great battles. He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, you know to be up there with a legend like that, it’s just insane. And be right under Michael Jordan, it’s crazy man.

“I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish. It’s been amazing so far.”

Durant's collection of milestones isn't lost of his teammates.

“He’s passing people nightly,” Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. said of Durant. “He’s passing people in every category. He just keeps accomplishing milestones and he just acts like it’s nothing. He doesn’t celebrate it, he’s wasn’t out there trying to hunt and go get it. He’s just out there hooping and it just happens organically.

“He’s a testament of what a basketball player is supposed to be.”

Durant reflected on the earlier years of his career when he and Nowitzki had “meaningful battles,” including the Western Conference finals in 2011. Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks beat Durant and Oklahoma City 4-1 and went on to beat the Miami Heat for their first NBA championship.

Then, the next year, when the Mavericks tried to repeat, Durant and the Thunder swept them out of the playoffs.

“There were times going into a series I hated Dirk, you know what I’m saying. I’m sure it was vice versa,” Durant said.

As Durant grew in the league, he idolized Nowitzki.

Durant wanted to the same respect Nowitzki received.

“I tried to emulate as much as I can all the great players, but I took a lot from Dirk,” Durant said.

After the Rockets victory on Sunday night, a special message from Nowitzki was played on the video board.

“It’s been incredible to watch his career,” Nowitzki said in the video. “Like I said, he’s one of the purest scorers this game has ever seen. And so congrats KD, keep it going. Move up a couple more spots and keep it up.”

Durant appreciated the message from Nowitzki.

“For him to take time out of his day to send me a message on passing him on the charts is pretty cool," Durant said. "It speaks to how humble Dirk is.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) is interviewed after surpassing Dirk Nowitzki to become the NBA's sixth all-time leading scorer in an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) presses a launch button after surpassing Dirk Nowitzki to become the NBA's sixth all-time leading scorer in an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks to pass over New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) and guard Micah Peavy (14) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

HONOLULU (AP) — Chris Gotterup had leis draped around his neck, a flute of champagne in one hand and the gold Sony Open trophy in the other for the traditional toast from the Waialae members Sunday evening. He's loved coming to Hawaii, even if the occasion was never worth celebrating.

He was part of the rookie class that came to Honolulu in 2024 for orientation, only to be told there was no room for them in the field. He missed the cut a year ago, falling to No. 195 in the world.

On Sunday, he pulled away with a combination of power and putting for a 6-under 64 to win the Sony Open by two shots, giving him three victories in three years on the PGA Tour and moving him closer to golf's A-list.

“I just felt like this week I was in a good frame of mind, just happy to be here,” Gotterup said. “I felt like I was in control of my brain, which is the most important thing. I drove it great and made some putts when it mattered.”

He finished at 16-under 264 and moved to No. 17 in the world.

Ryan Gerard birdied his last two holes for a 65 to finish alone in second. He flew to Mauritius at the end of last year and was runner-up to move into the top 50 and secure a spot in his first Masters. Now he’s just outside the top 30.

Patrick Rodgers had another chance at his first PGA Tour victory, but he went without a birdie on the back nine until the final hole. He closed with a 65 to finish third.

“Unfortunately, didn’t have a hot putter today,” said Rodgers, who now has nine top 3s since 2015.

Gotterup had a dream week, in control of his game at Waialae, cruising the streets of Waikiki at night to get away from golf. On Sunday, he got a little help from 54-hole leader Davis Riley, who had a pair of birdies through five holes before his bid ended in a span of four holes.

He had consecutive three-putt bogeys from long range, and then followed with a wild drive into the trees left of the eighth fairway that led to double bogey. He went from a two-shot lead to three shots behind and never caught up, closing with a 71 to tie for sixth.

But then, Gotterup didn't give anyone much of a chance.

“It was anyone’s tournament,” Gotterup said. “Then I made a couple nice putts and I saw a couple people drop back. I know Ryan played a great tournament and he tried to make a run at the end. Couple other guys played great and I just held them off.”

Even on an old-school Waialae course with doglegs framed by royal palms, he pounded away with tee shots of 330-plus yards early on the back nine. But it was his putter that ultimately made a difference.

Gotterup holed a 20-footer on No. 12, and then poured in a 25-foot putt on the 13th, the toughest hole on the course. He all but clinched it with a tee shot that landed perfectly between the pin and the bunker on the par-3 17th for a final birdie.

He said the course reminded him of a home, and Gotterup has a lot of those lately — raised in New Jersey and three years at Rutgers, a senior season at Oklahoma where he stayed until recently moving to Florida.

This reference was Jersey, mainly the shape of the holes and the shots required.

“Just the way you play the golf course reminds me a lot of how I grew up playing,” Gotterup said. “So that is a comforting feeling. I know the kind of golf that’s required ... and it’s a fine line of bomb-and-gouge and also needing to be in the fairway. I did enough of finding the fairway this week.”

The Sony Open was the latest start to the PGA Tour season because The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui was canceled due to a water dispute that had the course brown in September.

The final round at Waialae was played under a vibe that this might be the last of Hawaii on the tour. The Sony Open title sponsorship expires this year, and there is a movement to start the tour season later than ever in 2027 and going forward, either right before or after the Super Bowl.

“Hopefully,” Gotterup said, “I'm not the last champion.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Chris Gotterup reacts after winning the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Chris Gotterup holds his trophy after winning the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Patrick Rodgers reacts on the 13th green during the fourth round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ryan Gerard hits on the 18th hole during the fourth round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Chris Gotterup reacts after winning the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Chris Gotterup hits from the 14th tee during the fourth round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Chris Gotterup reacts after winning the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)