James Harden made history on the evening of December 6, 2025, officially entering the NBA’s elite top 10 all-time scorers with a historic feat that caps a remarkable 17-year career. The LA Clippers star surpassed Carmelo Anthony with his 28,290th career point, vaulting into 10th place on the legendary scoring leaderboard. Harden now trails only Shaquille O’Neal by just 307 points, setting the stage for another championship climb.
🔥 Quick Facts
- 28,290 career points — Harden’s total after hitting free throws against Minnesota Timberwolves on December 6
- 307 points behind Shaquille O’Neal — Harden can realistically reach 9th place this 2025-26 season
- 3,255 made three-pointers — Second all-time behind Stephen Curry’s 4,133, a gap of 878 threes
- 26.5 PPG this season — Highest scoring average since 2019-20 when he led league with 34.3 PPG
The Iconic Moment That Defined a Legacy
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Harden achieved the milestone while playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis. With the game unfolding in the third quarter, Harden sank a pair of free throws to climb past Anthony. The moment was fitting for a player who has made a career of crafting clutch moments and executing high-percentage plays under pressure.
The 11-time NBA All-Star finished the game with 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. His performance underscored why he remains a dominant force at age 36, defying expectations about longevity in professional basketball. Harden’s efficiency and consistency throughout his career have been hallmarks of his unique scoring ability.
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The achievement came just 20 points behind Anthony’s total entering Saturday’s game, making the accomplishment feel inevitable given Harden’s current momentum. The LA Clippers organization immediately celebrated the milestone with their star, honoring his status as one of history’s greatest scorers.
Breaking Down the All-Time Top 10 Scoring List
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 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 |
| 10 | James Harden (NEW) | 28,290 |
Harden’s ascent removes him from a tie with Carmelo Anthony, who held the 10th position with 28,289 points. The top 10 remains an exclusive club of basketball immortals, each having logged 15+ seasons of elite-level production. Three of the top five scorers (LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan) are actively debated for greatest of all time status.
The presence of Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan near the summit demonstrates the diverse skill sets required to accumulate such astronomical scoring totals. Harden’s place represents the modern era’s emphasis on three-point shooting and ball handling as critical scoring pathways.
The Rise to 10th: Harden’s Scoring Journey
Harden began his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009, initially as a bench player before his breakout with the Houston Rockets. His MVP season in 2017-18 showcased him at peak offensive dominance, averaging 34.3 points per game while leading the entire league. The Beard’s combination of step-back threes, drive-and-kick playmaking, and free throw drawing revolutionized how guards approached scoring.
Throughout his career, Harden has never finished below 20 PPG in a full season where he appeared in significant games. His iron-man consistency across multiple franchises—from the Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers to the LA Clippers—underscores his adaptability. Even at age 36, Harden remains dangerous, currently averaging 26.5 points this season while shooting 43.8% from the field.
The 2024-25 season represents a career inflection point where Harden can potentially pass Shaquille O’Neal for 9th place. At his current scoring pace of approximately 1,400 points annually, he would need roughly four more months to eclipse The Big Diesel’s legendary 28,596-point total.
Beyond Scoring: Harden’s Three-Point Dominance
Harden’s second-place status on the all-time three-pointers made list with 3,255 threes represents an equally historic achievement. Only Stephen Curry has made more, with 4,133 three-pointers. The 878-three gap between them may seem insurmountable, but Harden continues shooting threes at volume. If Harden averages 2.5+ threes nightly over the next seasons, closing the gap becomes mathematically possible.
The evolution of three-point shooting has transformed basketball, and Harden sits near the forefront of this revolutionary change. His ability to create three-point opportunities—both for himself and teammates—reshaped offensive architecture across the NBA. Teams now build entire systems around the spacing and movement principles Harden helped pioneer.
Harden also ranks 5th all-time in free throws made, demonstrating his complete arsenal as a scoring force. This three-pronged approach—field goals, three-pointers, and free throws—explains his sustained excellence over nearly two decades.
Will James Harden Keep Climbing the Scoring Ladder?
The answer hinges on durability and opportunity. At 36 years old, Harden faces the inevitable decline most players experience late in their careers. However, his current form—averaging 26.5 points while shooting efficiently—suggests two to three more seasons of elite scoring production remain realistic.
If Harden maintains 20+ PPG, he will surpass Shaquille O’Neal within months and potentially target 8th place (Moses Malone’s 27,409 points). The mathematical path exists, but injuries, decline, or team dynamics could alter his trajectory. Will Harden reach top 8, proving his longevity against basketball’s greatest scorers?
The Legacy Question
Top 10 all-time scoring carries extraordinary weight in basketball mythology. Harden joins legends who spent 15-20 seasons operating at elite efficiency levels. His path differed from pure scorers like Jordan or Bryant—Harden’s scoring often came through assists, spacing, and playmaking. Nonetheless, 28,290 points represent undeniable greatness.
What’s Next: Ninth Place
Shaquille O’Neal’s 28,596 points now represent Harden’s obvious next target. The Big Diesel dominated centers from 1992-2010, scoring at peak efficiency in an era of physical defense. Harden’s three-point prowess offers a contrasting path to similar totals. Reaching Shaq’s total would cement Harden among the undisputed scoring elite.
Sources
- NBA.com — Official scoring statistics and Harden milestone announcement
- ESPN — Game coverage and historical scoring data
- Basketball-Reference.com — Comprehensive career statistics and all-time lists
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.