ames Harden just stamped his name into NBA history once again.
With his 21st point against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night, Harden officially passed Carmelo Anthony to become the 10th-leading scorer in NBA history. And in true James Harden fashion, he did it at the free-throw line—where he’s lived for nearly two decades.
Those two smooth free throws pushed Harden to 28,290 career points, nudging him one slot higher on the all-time leaderboard. Carmelo Anthony now sits at No. 11 with 28,289.
The milestone didn’t go unnoticed by Harden, who reflected on the moment afterward.
“Blessing. A testament to the work I’ve put in,” Harden said. “It’s an honor, especially with somebody like Melo who’s done so much greatness for this league.”
Harden finished the night with 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, though his late 3-point attempt to send the game to overtime fell short. The Clippers dropped the contest 109–106 after holding an 18-point lead in the first half.
But the loss didn’t overshadow Harden’s historic achievement—or what comes next.
Because the only name standing between Harden and ninth place is none other than Shaquille O’Neal.
Shaq’s Scoring Legacy Is Next on Harden’s Path
Harden now trails Shaq by just 307 points—a gap he’s on pace to erase quickly, especially considering his current scoring surge.
At 17 years into his career, Harden is averaging 26.5 points per game, his highest mark since he led the league in 2019–20 with a ridiculous 34.3 points per game. That kind of production puts Shaq’s position in real jeopardy.
But Shaq’s scoring résumé is no small mountain to climb.
Shaq’s Scoring Dominance in Context
Shaquille O’Neal retired with 28,596 points, good for ninth all-time and earned in a way few players have ever matched:
• Relentless paint dominance
• Three straight Finals MVPs
• Seasons of double-team and triple-team attention
• An entire rulebook adjusted because of his power and size
Shaq led the league in scoring twice and posted 13 straight seasons of 20-plus points per game. At his peak, from 1999–2001, he averaged 29.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and shot nearly 58% from the field—numbers that defined an era.
Even in an era of pace, spacing, and 3-point explosions, Shaq’s scoring totals still hold strong. And that’s what makes Harden’s pursuit so impressive.
The Countdown to Passing Shaq Begins
Harden needs just 307 more to slide past O’Neal into ninth place, and at his current pace, it’s a matter of “when,” not “if.”
For now, Shaq still owns the spot.
But Harden is coming.
And when he gets there, you can bet Shaq will have something hilarious, loud, and possibly petty to say about it on Inside the NBA.