Harden Climbs to No. 10 on NBA All-Time Scoring List, Passing Carmelo Anthony
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MINNEAPOLIS — Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden moved into 10th place on the NBA’s career scoring chart Saturday night, eclipsing Carmelo Anthony during a 109-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Harden needed 21 points to overtake Anthony’s 28,289. He piled up 19 before halftime and sealed the milestone with two free throws at the 4:23 mark of the third quarter. The 36-year-old finished with 34 points, lifting his career total to 28,303.
The next names in Harden’s sights are Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) at No. 9 and former teammate Kevin Durant (31,024) at No. 8, totals entering Saturday’s action.
“You look at that list, it’s like there’s no way,” Harden said earlier in the week. “The work that I literally put in is coming to fruition.”
Harden joins Kobe Bryant (33,643) and Michael Jordan (32,292) as the only guards among the top 10 scorers. “They were flying,” Harden said of Bryant and Jordan. “I’ve been playing everything on the ground, so I’m proud I figured out how to maneuver around people.”
Much of Harden’s production has come via his signature step-back jumper. Since the 2013-14 season, analytics firm GeniusIQ credits him with nearly 2,000 made step-backs and more than 5,100 points on that shot—over 1,000 more than any other player.
Last season, Harden passed Ray Allen for second on the league’s career three-pointers list. He sits at 3,255 made threes, trailing only Stephen Curry (4,111).
Clippers teammate Kawhi Leonard marveled at Harden’s longevity. “He’s 36 years old. The production level is still there, and you can see how much work he puts in,” Leonard said.
Harden reflected on the 2012 trade that sent him from Oklahoma City to Houston, where he averaged 29.6 points, 7.7 assists and 6.0 rebounds over eight-plus seasons, won the 2017-18 MVP award and captured three consecutive scoring titles (30.4, 36.1 and 34.3 points from 2018-20). “Life-changing,” he said of the move. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to be who I am [if I’d stayed].”
Asked if he has ever felt unbeatable on the court, Harden replied, “I feel like that still.”
Source: ESPN
