James Harden Achieves Career Milestone
In an impressive display of scoring prowess, James Harden, currently of the Los Angeles Clippers, has etched his name among basketball legends. On Saturday night, during a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Harden achieved a significant career milestone by surpassing Carmelo Anthony to take the 10th slot on the NBA’s all-time scoring leaderboard. The 36-year-old reached the landmark by converting a free throw, bringing his career total to 28,290 points. Among active players, only LeBron James, the all-time leader, and Kevin Durant, who sits in eighth place, are ranked above him.
Clippers’ Disappointing Loss
Despite Harden’s remarkable accomplishment, the night ended in disappointment for the Clippers, who fell to the Timberwolves 109-106. Harden recorded 34 points, along with 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 turnovers, but it was not enough to turn the tide for Los Angeles, which now has a bleak record of 6-18—making them one of the poorest teams in the Western Conference this season.
Challenges Facing the Clippers
The Clippers entered this year with high expectations, but off-court issues, including controversy surrounding Kawhi Leonard and complications involving Chris Paul, have overshadowed the team’s performance.
Harden’s Scoring Legacy
Harden’s journey in the league has shaped him into one of the most prolific scorers. Since his transformation into a scoring machine with the Houston Rockets, he has developed a game characterized by high-volume shooting and an emphasis on free throws and 3-pointers—the latter of which has positioned him second in NBA history, trailing only Stephen Curry. Additionally, he ranks fifth in all-time free throws made, alongside Hall of Famers like Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant, and he holds the 13th spot in assists consolidating his reputation as a versatile offensive threat.
Future Projections
Looking ahead, Harden’s scoring potential remains strong. Since departing the Rockets, he has averaged 21 points per game over four seasons. If he maintains this average for the next three years, he could amass another 4,321 points, propelling him into fifth place past Michael Jordan and potentially closing in on Kobe Bryant, who ranks fourth with 33,643 points.
NBA All-Time Scoring List
As Harden continues to climb the scoring charts, here is a glimpse at the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list:
- 1. LeBron James (42,268)
- 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387)
- 3. Karl Malone (36,928)
- 4. Kobe Bryant (33,643)
- 5. Michael Jordan (32,292)
- 6. Dirk Nowitzki (31,560)
- 7. Wilt Chamberlain (31,419)
- 8. Kevin Durant (31,024)
- 9. Shaquille O’Neal (28,596)
- 10. James Harden (28,290)
