The Los Angeles Clippers witnessed pure history Monday as James Harden claimed the ninth spot on the NBA all-time scoring list. He surpassed Shaquille O’Neal with exactly 28,598 points.
Harden drilled a decisive 3-pointer during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets to officially secure the major milestone. This specific bucket moved him past the legendary center O’Neal.
The point guard entered the contest trailing the center by exactly 14 points and achieved the feat in his 1,187th career game, significantly fewer than O'Neal's 1,207 games played. The Clippers ultimately won the game 117-109.
James Harden's big shoutout includes Kevin Durant and icons
Harden attributes his endurance to a tough routine that he shares with peers like Durant and Stephen Curry. He specifically highlighted their rare and shared mental toughness.
Harden said, “I work my butt off. You don’t understand how hard it is to work.” He emphasized the sheer difficulty of maintaining longevity.
He believes casual fans overlook the physical toll required to maintain production across 17 demanding seasons. Only a small, elite circle of veterans truly understands this.
“It’s a handful of guys who understand it and know it,” Harden remarked regarding the exclusive club. His list includes legends such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook, all of whom have had impressive careers.
Each of these players has played for at least 16 seasons while maintaining strong performance levels into the later years. LeBron stands out for completing over 20 seasons, a milestone once considered nearly impossible to achieve.
The scoring records indicate that the older players are still in control, as they consistently outperform the younger generation. Their shared dominance proves that high-volume offensive efficiency often defies age.
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