LeBron James exemplifies a new standard of greatness, redefining what a player's prime can be. His ability to leverage longevity has not only kept the Los Angeles Lakers in title contention but also set a benchmark that seems unattainable — by becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer in 2023, James stands alone atop a record that no active player, realistically, is likely to pursue.
Now in his 23rd season and approaching 41, James still draws critics, yet he's doing things few players his age could even imagine. That is potentially why fellow NBA star James Harden remained humble when his name surfaced alongside James' in all-time discussions.
Harden has never lacked critics, but only a few players in NBA history have scored the ball as the Los Angeles Clippers guard. He added another milestone to that resume on Saturday.
During the third quarter of the Dec 16 matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves , the 36-year-old passed Carmelo Anthony for 10th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, reaching 28,290 points, with only LeBron James (first) and Kevin Durant (eighth) standing ahead among active players.
When Harden was recently asked about sharing that list with James, his response was clear and direct. He explained why LeBron's scoring record exists in its own category and shouldn't be grouped with his own accomplishments.
"Don't even say Bron in this conversation. We talk about that record, nobody is ever catching that… But just being back out there and giving my teammates an opportunity to help them win a game is important to me. It wasn't pretty, but we got a win. So just gotta build moment off of this," Harden said, per Clippers beat writer Joey Linn.
Since leaving the Houston Rockets , Harden has averaged 21.0 points per game while appearing in 68.5 games across four full seasons. If he maintains that production for three more years, the math becomes hard to ignore. That pace would add up to 4,321 points, pushing him past Michael Jordan into fifth place. It's a trajectory that shows how Harden continues to put up numbers at a level most veterans can't sustain.
Behind 32 points and 12 rebounds from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden 's 21 points and 10 assists, the Clippers earned a 103-88 victory over the depleted Lakers on Saturday. That ended an eight-game home losing streak in Inglewood. John Collins recorded 17 points with 12 rebounds, and Brook Lopez scored 11 off the bench.
The Lakers were already without DeAndre Ayton , Rui Hachimura , and Austin Reaves , and then saw their main star, Luka Doncic , exit after halftime with a left leg contusion. The Clippers , meanwhile, lost Ivica Zubac early in the contest, yet still held the Lakers to 38.6 percent shooting and 15.8 percent from 3-point range.
The defensive effort was relentless, and it showed in how little rhythm the Lakers could find offensively. The win also snapped a four-game skid against the Lakers, giving the Clippers something to build on after a frustrating stretch at home.
James poured in a season-high 36 points, with Doncic scoring 12 in limited action before his injury.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
