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James Harden Passes Shaquille O’Neal for No. 9 on NBA All-Time Scoring List

The 36-year-old is posting his best scoring average since 2020, highlighting the longevity driving his pursuit of Wilt Chamberlain next.

Overview

  • The milestone came on a straight-on three early in the third quarter at Intuit Dome, moving him past Shaquille O’Neal’s 28,596 in a 117–109 win over Charlotte.
  • Harden finished with 32 points and 10 assists in his 1,187th regular-season game, eclipsing O’Neal’s total in fewer games than Shaq’s 1,207.
  • He now has 28,614 career points and is averaging about 25.6 this season, his highest scoring rate since 2019–20.
  • Wilt Chamberlain’s 31,419 points are next on the list, nearly 3,000 ahead, while LeBron James leads all scorers at 42,623.
  • Calling the feat “a true honor,” Harden praised O’Neal as the most dominant center and recorded his 109th career 30-point, 10-assist game, second only to Oscar Robertson.