Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden entered Monday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers needing just one point to reach a significant career milestone. The Clippers fell to Philadelphia in a closely contested game at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday, but Harden delivered 28 points along with six rebounds and five assists.
He had two late three-point attempts that could have given Los Angeles the lead, though neither shot connected. Despite the defeat, Harden secured the historic achievement he had been approaching throughout the week. He became the 11th player in NBA history to reach 28,000 career points.
28K FOR THE BEARD ?
Just the 11th player in NBA history to reach it ? pic.twitter.com/OVKirhRv6w
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 18, 2025
The other 10 players to achieve this milestone are LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Carmelo Anthony. All of them are Hall of Famers or certain future Hall of Famers, and Harden will ultimately join those ranks when his playing career ends.
Harden currently sits 11th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and is fewer than 300 points behind Carmelo Anthony for the No. 10 position. He is expected to surpass Anthony later this season, barring injury. At his current scoring pace, Harden could also move past Shaquille O’Neal before the season concludes.
James Harden is currently in his 17th NBA season and continues to carry a substantial on-court workload. For the Los Angeles Clippers, he is averaging 26.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 6.3 rebounds.
His placement among the league’s top scorers reinforces what has been evident throughout his career. Harden has established himself as one of the most prolific offensive players in NBA history, and these milestones continue to cement that legacy.
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