James Harden passed Shaquille O’Neal for ninth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during the Los Angeles Clippers‘ 117-109 home win against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday evening.
The Los Angeles Clippers guard needed 15 points to leapfrog Shaq heading into the game, and Harden hit the scoring milestone with a three-pointer early in the third period. He eventually finished with 32 points, four rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals on 11-for-28 shooting from the field across 38 minutes of action.
“Shaquille O’Neal, somebody that I literally grew up watching here in L.A.,” Harden told reporters via the Associated Press. “Him and Kobe (Bryant) 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.”
“I work my butt off. You don’t understand how hard it is to work and the longevity of it. It’s a handful of guys who understand it and know it. A couple of them are still playing at a high level, which is a beautiful thing to see… Cherish it. Embrace it. Love it. Because once it’s over, it’s over. You watch guys like Bron, Steph, KD, and Russ do their thing at the highest level, still at our age. It’s a beautiful thing to see. It’s a testament to those guys and the work they put in, and we’ve put in, to be able to still doing it this long,” he added.
Los Angeles Clippers News: James Harden’s historic night draws plaudits from co-star
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard wasn’t surprised to see James Harden hit another milestone. The Klaw praised his co-star’s work longevity and work ethic, which he feels the younger players should try to emulate.
“It’s amazing to hear. Where he came from, his upbringing. Showing how much hard work. He’s an inspiration for the youth out here. Knowing that if you work hard, you can get there one day. Just stay focused on the daily grind. Through all the ups and downs and everything. It’s very hard. Congratulations to him,” Leonard said of Harden via SI’s Joey Linn.
Leonard was no slouch last night either, as he led all scorers with 35 points, five rebounds, three assists, and five three-pointers on 11-for-19 shooting from the field and 8-for-9 shooting from the charity stripe across 31 minutes of action.
