James Harden Surges Past Shaq: What This Historic NBA Scoring Milestone Means for His Legacy

James Harden just etched his name deeper into NBA lore, overtaking Shaquille O’Neal to claim ninth place on the league’s all-time scoring chart — a milestone that’s as thrilling as it is hard-earned. Watching the Clippers’ star drain a 3-pointer early in the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets was more than just a highlight; it was a career-defining moment that nudged his total points to an astounding 28,598 in his 1,187th game — surpassing O’Neal’s 28,596 from 1,207 contests over nearly two decades. It’s remarkable stuff, especially considering Harden kicked off this journey trailing by 14 points but closed with 32 in the Clippers’ 117-109 triumph. The climb doesn’t stop here though, with legends like Wilt Chamberlain and, of course, LeBron James ahead, each towering over the scoring ranks with their own incredible feats. Harden’s evolution from prolific scorer to one of basketball’s all-time great playmakers — sitting 12th in assists and second in 3-pointers made — only adds layers to this story that fans and stat buffs can’t get enough of. Dive into the details and savor the saga unfolding on hardwood. LEARN MORE

LOS ANGELES — James Harden has passed Shaquille O’Neal for ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

The Los Angeles Clippers guard made a 3-pointer early in the third quarter on Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets, pushing his career total to 28,598 points in his 1,187th regular season game. O’Neal had 28,596 points in 1,207 games over 19 years.

Harden, who began the night 14 points behind O’Neal, finished with 32 points in the Clippers’ 117-109 win against the Hornets. He had 13 points in the first half — including 11 in the first quarter — and scored 11 in the third and eight in the fourth to increase his scoring total to 28, 614.

Harden entered the night averaging 25.6 points per game, his highest average since the 2019-20 season (34.3 points per game) when he won the last of three straight league scoring titles.

Harden, who began the game with 28,582 career points in his 17th season, faces a steep climb to the next spot. Wilt Chamberlain is eighth with 31,419 points, in just 1,045 games over 14 years. LeBron James is the all-time leader with 42,601 points entering his game with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Following him are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant.

Harden recently moved up to 12th on the all-time assists list. The 11-time All-Star also ranks second all-time in 3-pointers made, behind Stephen Curry.