<p>The Intuit Dome erupted in thunderous applause Monday night as James Harden etched his name deeper into basketball immortality, surpassing Shaquille O'Neal to claim ninth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.</p> <p>With a trademark step-back three-pointer early in the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets, Harden pushed his career total to 28,598 points, passing the Lakers legend's mark of 28,596 in a 117-109 Clippers victory that marked their fourth win in five games.</p> <p>The milestone came in Harden's 1,187th regular season game, 20 fewer contests than it took O'Neal to accumulate his total during a 19-year career that included four championships and three Finals MVP awards.</p> <p>For Harden, the moment represented both a personal triumph and a testament to the scoring brilliance that has defined his 15-year journey from Oklahoma City role player to Houston superstar to Los Angeles floor general.</p> <p>He finished the night with 32 points alongside Kawhi Leonard's 35-point performance, orchestrating another efficient offensive display for a Clippers team finding its rhythm at midseason.</p> <p>"Shaquille O'Neal, somebody that I literally grew up watching here in L.A.," Harden said afterward, his voice carrying the weight of reflection. "Him and Kobe 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."</p> <h2>From Sixth Man to Scoring Machine</h2> <p>The achievement places Harden among basketball's most elite scorers, trailing only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant and Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time list.</p> <p>His ascent has been marked by remarkable consistency and an evolution that saw him transform from a sixth man winning the 2012 award with Oklahoma City into a three-time scoring champion and 2018 MVP who revolutionized offensive basketball with his isolation mastery and long-range weaponry.</p> <p>At 36 years old and averaging 25.6 points per game this season, Harden continues defying expectations with production that would be impressive for players a decade younger. For those interested in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-the-nba">how to bet on NBA games</a>, veteran scorers like Harden often present unique opportunities in player prop markets.</p> <p>His Houston tenure from 2012 to 2021 produced his most prolific scoring stretch, including three consecutive seasons leading the league in points per game.</p> <p>During that remarkable run from 2018 to 2020, Harden averaged 30.4, 36.1, and 34.3 points respectively, numbers that recall the scoring dominance of Jordan and Bryant in their primes. His ability to consistently record <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/what-is-a-triple-double">triple-doubles in the NBA</a> further cemented his status as one of the most complete offensive players of his generation.</p> <p>The 2018-19 campaign, when he averaged 36.1 points while leading the Rockets to 53 wins, represented one of the greatest individual offensive seasons in modern NBA history.</p> <h2>What Comes Next for The Beard</h2> <p>Looking forward, Harden's next target is Wilt Chamberlain's eighth-place mark of 31,419 points, requiring another 2,821 points to surpass. At his current pace, that milestone appears within reach before his career concludes, potentially as soon as next season if he maintains his health and production.</p> <p>The Clippers, currently fighting for playoff positioning at 16-23, need Harden's scoring and leadership more than ever as they navigate a competitive Western Conference. With <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/nba-playoffs">NBA playoffs betting</a> heating up as the season progresses, the Clippers' postseason hopes may rest heavily on Harden's continued excellence.</p> <p>As the Intuit Dome crowd rose to acknowledge Monday's achievement, Harden paused to absorb the moment, understanding that these milestones grow rarer as careers wind toward their conclusions.</p> <p>At 36, with his scoring touch still sharp and his passion undiminished, James Harden proved once again that he belongs among the elite scorers who have ever played the game.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/nba-news-2025-most-triple-doubles-in-nba">The players who've mastered the art of the triple-double</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nba/nba-news/nba-player-salaries">What the league's biggest stars actually take home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-us/nba-player-awards">Who's in the running for this season's top honours?</a></li> </ul>