In the glittering expanse of basketball, the NBA court is akin to an arena filled with legends and challenges. Each statistical record shines like a star, drawing countless players to strive for it. Among these, the achievement of 30,000 points stands out as one of the most brilliant.
Imagine, on that field brimming with passion and sweat, players repeatedly shooting, breaking through, and taking free throws. Every score is a testament to their strength and perseverance. The number 30,000 encapsulates countless nights of hard training, fierce competition, and a relentless love for basketball. It represents a player maintaining a high level of competitive state throughout their long career, continuously contributing to their team. Among the many current stars, several are on the track to challenge this great record, each with their unique story, full of challenges and hope.
Let's start with Damian Lillard, the top scorer in the league, who is like a sharp sword, always shining brightly on the court. Even at 34 years old, time has not dulled his edge; he can still hit crucial shots in games and break scoring records. In a match against strong opponents, Lillard faced tight defense in the final moments. He dribbled, changed direction, leaped, and completed a super-high difficulty three-pointer that streaked across the night sky like lightning, instantly igniting the audience's enthusiasm and helping his team win. However, the harsh reality is like an insurmountable wall between him and 30,000 points. Currently, his total score is 21,794 points, quite a distance from the goal. Moreover, with age, his physical strength and attendance rate have begun to decline. Once, he could maintain full attendance in a season, giving his all in every game. Now, injuries occasionally plague him, forcing him to miss some matches. This makes his path to cross the 30,000-point threshold increasingly difficult, almost becoming an impossible task.
Chris Paul, hailed as the "God of Point Guards," possesses comprehensive and exquisite skills on the basketball court. He is like an experienced commander, capable of scoring himself and skillfully organizing offense to maximize his teammates' potential. On the defensive end, his presence makes opponents wary, always able to steal the ball with keen insight and excellent defensive skills, launching fast breaks. However, time is merciless even to him. At 39 years old, although his experience remains rich, his physical condition is far from what it once was.
Currently, his career total score is 22,608 points, but his average score has dropped below 9 points. In recent games, we can clearly see that his speed and explosiveness have declined. Once, he could easily break through the opponent's defense and quickly score near the basket. Now, he relies more on his experience and skills to find scoring opportunities. Despite his continued efforts in training and competition, time no longer allows him enough chances to break the seemingly unreachable "chasm" of 30,000 points. His dream of 30,000 points may unfortunately be declared shattered.
DeMar DeRozan, once a top scorer in the league, has consistently performed well since entering the competitive league in 2009. With solid fundamentals and excellent scoring ability, he has maintained a high level of play. His attendance rate is also very high, rarely missing games due to injury. In a regular-season game, he was hot-handed, almost infallible with mid-range shots and layups, scoring high points to help his team win. But now, at 35 years old, he must also face the challenges brought by aging. After joining the Kings this year, although he is still working hard to contribute to the team, with his gradually declining form, his total score has reached 24,207 points, but the future road is uncertain. Due to adjustments in team tactics and the rise of young players, his ball possession and shot attempts in the team may gradually decrease. For a player who needs a lot of shots to score, this is undoubtedly a huge blow. Breaking the 30,000-point record seems almost impossible.
Stephen Curry, the superstar who changed the landscape of basketball, always amazes with his performance on the court. He is like a magical wizard, always hitting those ultra-long-distance three-pointers in seemingly impossible situations, making opponents helpless. At 36 years old, his current total score is 24,271 points, still 5,729 points away from the 30,000-point club. In a key playoff game, Curry, under the team's deficit, relied on his super three-point shooting ability to continuously hit multiple threes, instantly turning around the situation and driving the audience wild. Although his scoring ability remains strong, the growth of age is inevitable. As time passes, his physical functions are gradually declining, and his scoring efficiency has shown signs of decline. Once, he could easily score 40 or even 50 points in a game, but now, he needs to make more efforts to maintain high scores. Although he is still the focus of opponents on the court, it may have become less realistic to challenge 30,000 points.
Russell Westbrook, the player with extraordinary talent, possesses a super ability to attack the basket. On the court, he is like a whirlwind, using his outstanding physique and explosiveness to repeatedly charge towards the basket and complete difficult scores. At 36 years old, his total score has reached 25,620 points, less than 4,500 points away from 30,000. In a game, Westbrook repeatedly staged thrilling fast-break dunks, exciting the audience. His attendance rate has remained relatively stable, which is a favorable factor for his pursuit of 30,000 points. However, his playing style also puts immense pressure on his body. With age, whether his physical strength can support him to continue such a playing style has become an unknown. If he can maintain health and contribute about 1,000 points per season in the coming years, he might have a chance to break the 30,000-point mark at 40. But to achieve this goal, he needs to overcome numerous difficulties and face enormous challenges.
James Harden, the league's super scorer, although his state fluctuates at times, still occupies an important position on the scoring list. At 35 years old, he has accumulated 26,596 points. In a game, Harden fully demonstrated his scoring skills, adeptly using step-back threes and driving to create fouls for free throws, scoring high points. With his current average of about 20 points per game, Harden can get about 1,500 points per year. At this rate, Harden may need about three years to successfully break 30,000 points and join this "legendary club." However, in these three years, he needs to maintain a stable state, avoid injuries, and maintain sufficient ball possession and shot attempts in the team, all of which are challenges he faces.
Finally, we come to Kevin Durant, who has the best chance of breaking 30,000 points. At 36 years old, he has accumulated 29,559 points, only 441 points away from 30,000. He is like an elegant swordsman, effortlessly scoring on the court with his tall stature and excellent scoring skills. In a game this season, Durant faced tight defense from his opponents. He used his height advantage to frequently shoot in the mid-range, scoring high points and showing his powerful strength. Considering that he can still average 27 points this season, as long as he stays healthy, he is likely to break the 30,000-point mark within this season. He is undoubtedly the player among the current players who is most likely to break this milestone.
These players, each a legendary figure on the basketball court, make every game like an exciting movie, filled with passion and suspense. However, time, the ruthless opponent, is always quietly slipping away beside them. For them, 30,000 points is not just a number but a great witness to their careers. Regardless of who ultimately succeeds in breaking this record, they have already left their own splendid chapters in the long river of basketball history. As fans, we are fortunate to witness their journey of struggle and look forward to their continued creation of miracles and writing of their own glory in future games.