James Harden continues to add to his NBA legacy. This Monday, January 12, 2026, the Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard surpassed Shaquille O’Neal and became the ninth leading scorer in league history, a mark that confirms him as one of the most important offensive players of his generation.
The historic moment came early in the third quarter of the game against the Charlotte Hornets, when Harden hit a three-pointer that moved him past O’Neal on the all-time points list. James Harden finished the night with 32 points in the Clippers’ 117-109 win, bringing his career total to 28,614 points, which was more than Shaq’s 28,596 in the regular season. In addition, Harden also contributed 10 assists, showing that he continues to be a complete threat on offense.
Consolidates itself as a legend
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Beyond the record, the game reflected what James Harden has accomplished in his 2025-26 season:
Remaining an offensive benchmark even after 17 seasons in the league.
Coming into that game, Harden was averaging 25.6 points per game, his highest average since the 2019-20 season, when he signed one of the best individual years of his career.
For the Hispanic audience living in the United States, this achievement has special value for two reasons:
First, because it confirms that James Harden is already in a group reserved only for legends.
Second, because it also shows how today’s NBA continues to build history night by night, something that many fans follow closely from cities like Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Chicago or Miami.
His next challenge is called Wilt Chamberlain.
He is one of the most important offensive players of his generation
QuéOnnda.com
Now, James Harden has a huge challenge ahead of him if he wants to continue climbing the ranks:
The next player on the list is Wilt Chamberlain, who ranks eighth with 31,419 points, a considerable difference.
At the top of the all-time list remains LeBron James, who began the day as the all-time scoring leader with 42,623 points.
Followed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant.
In addition to his scoring impact, James Harden also excels in other historical categories:
He recently ranked 12th in all-time assists, and is second only to Stephen Curry in three-pointers made in NBA history.
With this new record, James Harden not only surpasses Shaq:
He confirms that his name is already written among the greatest.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
