James Harden Surpasses Shaquille O’Neal on NBA All-Time Scoring List

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden added another major milestone to his decorated NBA career on Monday night, moving past Shaquille O’Neal on the league’s all-time scoring list during the Clippers’ 117-109 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Harden achieved the feat by knocking down a 3-pointer early in the third quarter, pushing his career scoring total to 28,598 points in his 1,187th regular-season game. That basket moved him ahead of O’Neal, who finished his 19-year NBA career with 28,596 points across 1,207 games.

Reflecting on the achievement, Harden paid tribute to the Hall of Fame center and his impact on the game. “Shaquille O’Neal, somebody that I literally grew up watching here in L.A.,” Harden said. “Him and Kobe (Bryant) doing their thing, winning multiple championships, the most dominant big man in the history of the game. It’s a true honor, it’s a testament to the work that I put in.”

Harden entered the contest just 14 points shy of O’Neal’s mark and delivered a strong all-around performance to clear it comfortably. He finished the night with 32 points and 10 assists, playing a central role in the Clippers’ win. Thirteen of those points came in the first half, including 11 in the opening quarter, before he added 11 more in the third and eight in the fourth. By the final buzzer, his career total had climbed to 28,614 points.

Now in his 17th NBA season, Harden began the game with 28,582 career points and is enjoying one of his most productive scoring campaigns in recent years. He entered the night averaging 25.6 points per game, his highest average since the 2019-20 season, when he led the league in scoring for the third consecutive year with 34.3 points per game.

While Harden has moved up the scoring ladder, the next spot presents a significant challenge. Wilt Chamberlain sits eighth on the all-time list with 31,419 points, amassed in just 1,045 games over 14 seasons. At the very top of the list is LeBron James, who entered Monday’s game with the Los Angeles Lakers holding 42,601 career points.

Harden’s legacy extends beyond scoring alone. He recently climbed to 12th on the NBA’s all-time assists list, is an 11-time All-Star, and ranks second all-time in 3-pointers made, trailing only Stephen Curry.