James Harden considers his place among the basketball immortals as he nears a spot in the top 10 all-time scorers. The image above shows Harden approaching Carmelo Anthony for the No. 10 position on the career scoring list. When asked about joining the ranks of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and other legendary scorers, his reaction came with a grin and a shake of the head that spoke louder than words: “Get outta here.”
Harden wasn’t expected to be listed with such elite company. He began his career coming off the bench for three seasons, spent most of his career playing on the floor rather than leaping through the air, and faced skepticism about whether his body could endure a long career. Longevity, many argued, is essential to any all-time great. Yet here he is, nudging into the top-10 and solidifying his status as a legendary figure in the game. Across the years, Harden’s scoring prowess has defined an era characterized by floor spacing, heavy use of isolation plays, and a reliance on skillful shot-making. He can create space, shoot the three, navigate into the paint for floaters, and draw contact for fouls, all of which cemented him among the premier scorers of his generation—and beyond.
Even now, Harden remains humble about the honor.
“No way,” he said. “No way that I got the opportunity to be part of this list. It’s literally like a dream come true, after all the work I’ve put in. So many things this game has done for you, and I’m sure for those guys as well. It’s an honor to be part of that.”
Harden has led the league in scoring on three occasions, including three straight seasons with 30-plus points per game. He sits second on the all-time list for made three-pointers, trailing only Stephen Curry. His style—built around space creation, a relentless step-back, and elite passing (he’s a two-time assists leader)—suits an era that prizes spacing and ball movement. When teams doubled him, Harden often dictated the outcome with decisions that could counter the trap and punish the defense.
During his peak, from 2017 to 2020, Harden became nearly impossible to defend one-on-one. In Houston, he was the centerpiece of an offense crafted by coach Mike D’Antoni to maximize Harden’s strengths, a run that featured him with abundant freedom to pull the trigger. Yet his career began differently. Drafted third overall in 2009, Harden landed in Oklahoma City alongside a young Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook—two players who would go on to lead the league in scoring multiple times.
OKC reached the NBA Finals after two seasons, seemingly destined to be a constant championship contender. But Harden was initially viewed as a role player, effectively coming off the bench and averaging under 10 points as a rookie, then just 12 the following year. Across his first three seasons with the Thunder, Harden totaled 2,795 points, a figure that would pale next to his single-season output of 2,818 points in 2018-19.
“I don’t know about the others on the top 10 list, but I remember when KD came in, LeBron came in, and those guys averaged around 27. I was literally a sixth man,” Harden recalled.
The turning point arrived in the summer of 2012. Oklahoma City, rich with young talent, hesitated to offer Harden a maximum extension, effectively moving him off the core trajectory. He describes what happened next simply: “Life changing.”
Being traded to Houston, paired with D’Antoni’s philosophy, propelled Harden into a new stratosphere. His iconic beard, his highlight reels, and his relentless scoring pressure redefined his career. The move created a new public identity as a game-changing scorer who could generate offense almost at will.
Had Harden stayed in Oklahoma City, one wonders how differently his arc would have unfolded. He mused, “I probably wouldn’t be able to be who I am, creating an entire James Harden line; I’m on my 10th signature shoe. I probably would have a championship, though. Who knows?”
And what if a different coach had guided Houston instead of D’Antoni? Harden believes D’Antoni deserves more credit for revolutionizing modern basketball, noting that the seven-seconds-or-less approach had a lasting impact on the game, something Harden says he learned from the Suns and then implemented in Houston.
Physically, Harden isn’t built as a traditional elite athlete. At 6-foot-5, he isn’t notably lanky nor a high-flyer. He rarely dunks, even today. “I look at this list and those guys are bigger and more athletic than me. The only two guards are Kobe and Jordan, who were airborne. I’m proud I found a way to maneuver around bigger players.”
He credits three signature tools for his ascent: the three-point shot, the step-back, and the crossover. If asked which was most decisive for his top-10 ascent, Harden points to the step-back. It creates separation, letting him either shoot or drive, or pivot into a precise pass.
“The step-back evolved into something everyone uses now,” he observed. “I don’t claim to have created it, but I did push it to another level.”
Even now, at 36 and on his fifth team, Harden remains highly productive, averaging about 27 points per game. His relative lack of athleticism may have contributed to his longevity, sparing his body from the wear of relentless jumping.
Clippers coach Ty Lue notes the routine that keeps Harden in peak shape. He loves to play, and the routine is a fixture in his career, helping him stay ready.
What does the future hold for Harden’s place in the top 10? He’s on track to surpass Shaquille O’Neal for ninth this season and has averaged around 1,400 points per year for the last three seasons. If that pace continues, cracking Wilt Chamberlain or Dirk Nowitzki’s ranks could be within reach in coming years.
Harden remains reflective about his journey. He recalls growing up admiring Kobe Bryant and practicing fadeaway Kobe-inspired moves. Grateful for the path he’s traveled, he says he plans to keep going as long as opportunities present themselves, taking it one year at a time.
Ty Lue remains optimistic about Harden’s longevity, noting that his success isn’t dependent on extraordinary athleticism or speed, but on technique and the ability to create space and get to his spots. With Harden still producing at a high level, the prospect of finishing among the all-time greats seems more plausible than ever.
When asked if there was ever a moment when the basketball felt destined to go in, Harden answered with quiet confidence: that certainty remains with him today.
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can reach him at spowell@nba.com, explore his archive at nba.com/writer/archive/shaun-powell, or follow him on X at X.com/Powell2daPeople.
