James Harden Surges Past Shaquille O’Neal—Is the Top 5 NBA Scoring Record Next?

Well, now this is a moment that demands a nod of respect — James Harden has done what many thought would take a while longer: he’s leapfrogged Shaquille O’Neal on the NBA’s all-time scoring leaderboard. Just a smidge past the midpoint of Monday’s clash with the Charlotte Hornets, Harden drained a three-pointer that etched his name firmly in ninth place, tallying 28,598 career points. Mind you, this isn’t just about a number; it’s a testament to relentless hustle, skill, and sheer scoring prowess that’s taken Harden from his early bench-warming days in Oklahoma City to etching a legacy beside legends. Earlier this season, he’d already nudged past Carmelo Anthony and now, surpassing O’Neal — it’s a clear signal: Harden’s journey through NBA history is far from over. At 36, still putting up nearly 26 points per game, the man’s precision and offensive wizardry remain undeniable, even if the manner in which he racks up points splits opinion. But hey, numbers don’t lie — and they tell a tale of a scorer who’s made his mark with both a spark and some controversy. Curious for the full breakdown? LEARN MORE.

James Harden has moved ahead of an NBA icon.

With a 3-pointer early in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, Harden scored his 28,598th career point. The bucket moved Harden into ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, ahead of Shaquille O’Neal.

Harden moved into the top 10 in December with a free throw against the Orlando Magic, which pushed him ahead of Carmelo Anthony. He entered Monday’s game with 28,582 career points, trailing O’Neal’s tally of 28,596 by just 14. He passed O’Neal in his 1,187th game, slightly ahead of O’Neal’s pace of 1,207 career games played. Harden reached his tally after playing his first three NBA seasons off the bench in Oklahoma City.

That list does not consider combined NBA and ABA scoring. If ABA scoring is taken into consideration, Julius Irving (30,026 points) and Moses Malone (29,580) round out the top 10, ahead of Harden and O’Neal.

Regardless, it’s a remarkable feat, even if Harden’s style of play has earned him a legion of detractors.

In addition to his immense talent and hard work, Harden’s game is very much a product of modern analytics, which doesn’t always produce compelling basketball for viewers. He’s generated more than 18,000 of his points from the free-throw line or beyond the 3-point arc, meaning that roughly 1/3 of his points have come from mid-range or scoring at the basket.

Harden’s detractors would also be quick to point out that he’s one of only two players in the top 10 alongside Karl Malone without an NBA championship. But while his reputation for foul baiting isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing form of basketball, it’s certainly effective, as the numbers bear out. There’s no denying that Harden’s one of the great offensive weapons in the history of the game.

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And at 36 years old, Harden remains an elite scorer (25.6 ppg) with a chance to move further into the top 10. But he’ll be stuck at No. 9 for a while. Up next on the list is Wilt Chamberlain, who is nearly 3,000 points ahead of Harden with 31,419 in eighth place.

Then comes Kevin Durant (31,458 as of Monday), who passed Chamberlain last week for seventh place and, like Harden, is showing few signs of slowing down with 26.1 points per game in his age 37 season.

LeBron James is the only other active player in the top 10. His all-time record of 42,601 points and counting is almost certainly out of Harden’s reach.