DeRozan's historic 39-point outburst propels him past Tim Duncan, etching his name further into NBA history.
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan exploded for a season-high 39 points against the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday evening, moving up to No. 18 on the NBA's All-Time Scoring List.
Despite the Kings' 117-109 loss, DeRozan was scorching hot, shooting 17-of-22 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.
DeRozan's historical bucket came with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter, as the six-time All-Star sunk a 16-footer from the left elbow. This basket moved DeRozan ahead of San Antonio Spurs legend and Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who scored 26,496 points during his esteemed career.
The mid-range assassin did most of his work in the in-between area and paint, attempting just one 3-pointer Wednesday night. DeRozan really got going in the second quarter, scoring 14 of Sacramento's 28 points in the quarter.
He kept this rolling into the second half, opening the third quarter with a 15-foot free-throw jumper, which he swished through.
DeRozan has climbed multiple spots up the all-time list this season, entering the top 20 last month. Most recently, DeRozan passed Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry for the 19th spot on the list, doing so with another patented mid-range jump shot last Thursday.
Prior to these scoring achievements, DeRozan had taken a less-aggressive role on the Kings, allowing the younger players to increase their shot volume, while becoming more of a playmaker.
However, when DeRozan gets going offensively, he is hard to stop, showcasing his elite shot-making ability Wednesday night. DeRozan is now the fifth-highest active scorer in the NBA, trailing only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden and teammate Russell Westbrook.
Thus far, DeRozan's time in Sacramento has not been as successful as anticipated, but he has been able to help younger Kings, like Nique Clifford, Maxime Reynaud and Precious Achiuwa to flourish under his guidance.
In early March, DeRozan told reporters he has enjoyed being able to share his expertise with younger guys, while emphasizing he has always tried to be the best teammate he could be.
"I always want to invest in every teammate that I've ever played with," DeRozan said. "However I can help, what I can learn ... It just goes back to having a love for the game."
DeRozan now sits at 26,505 career points, trailing Atlanta Hawks legend and Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins by less than 150 points (26,668).
The Kings have a brief intermission until hitting the road for their next game, facing off with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at 10:30 p.m.