James Harden added another milestone to his résumé Monday, moving into ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list after surpassing the career mark set by Shaquille O’Neal at 28,596 points.
The achievement came with extra meaning for Harden, who reached the mark while playing in Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Reflecting on the moment, the point guard emphasized how much O’Neal influenced him growing up.
“That’s one of the guys I watched constantly as a kid here in L.A.,” Harden said, according to the Associated Press. “Seeing Shaq and Kobe Bryant dominate, win titles, and control the league – that shaped how I viewed greatness.”
Harden described passing O’Neal as both humbling and validating, given Shaq’s status in league history.
“You’re talking about the most overpowering big man the game has ever seen,” he said. “To even be mentioned in the same breath is special. It shows how much work I’ve put in over the years, and how consistent you have to be to last this long.”
Harden has played 17 seasons for 5 teams, including the Rockets and Clippers. He has averaged 24.1 points, 7.2 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 1,187 regular-season games. He was selected to play in 11 All-Star games.
He has won 1 Sixth Man of the Year award and 1 MVP award.
Pacific Notes: Hachimura, Luka, Harden, Suns, Warriors https://t.co/IbvaDhsxNT pic.twitter.com/kQwLSlGXzx
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 13, 2026
