- January 13, 2026
Harden Hits Ninth Heaven: ‘The Beard’ Overtakes Shaq On NBA All-Time Scoring List
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James Harden passed Shaquille O’Neal for ninth on the NBA all-time scoring list with 28,614 points.
LA Clippers’ James Harden (AP)
There is no stopping ‘The Beard’ when he’s cooking.
James Harden’s march up the NBA’s all-time scoring list shows no signs of slowing — as just over a month after breaking into the top 10, the Los Angeles Clippers guard climbed another rung on Monday.
And this time around, he overtook none other than ‘Diesel’ Shaquille O’Neal to move into ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart.
Harden poured in 32 points and 10 assists in the Clippers’ 117–109 win over the Charlotte Hornets, reaching the milestone in trademark fashion.
A straight-on three-pointer early in the third quarter took him past Shaq’s career total of 28,596 points, before Harden finished the night on 28,614 career points.
The 36-year-old had only just cracked the elite top 10 on December 6, when he surpassed Carmelo Anthony, and he’s wasting no time continuing his climb.
Next up is Wilt Chamberlain in eighth place with 31,419 points — still some distance away, but Harden’s longevity and consistency suggest the chase is far from over.
At the summit of the scoring mountain remains LeBron James, who now sits on 42,623 points, followed by legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant.
Harden’s impact isn’t limited to scoring either. He ranks 12th all-time in assists (8,604), second in NBA history for made three-pointers (3,291), and ninth in threes per game.
He’s also — less glamorously — fourth all-time in turnovers, a byproduct of a career built around constant ball dominance.
Regardless, Harden continues to carve his name deeper into NBA history — one step(back), and one legend, at a time.
January 13, 2026, 15:48 IST
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