INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Harden crafted yet another memorable chapter in his illustrious career, moving forward on the all-time NBA 3-point leaderboard. On Sunday night, the guard for the Los Angeles Clippers surpassed legendary shooter Ray Allen, becoming the second player ever to achieve the milestone of 2,974 three-pointers made.
Harden hit this historic shot with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz, contributing to the Clippers' 116-105 victory. “It’s an unbelievable accomplishment and just a testimony to the work I’ve been putting in,” he reflected post-game, emphasizing the significance of reaching such heights as he continues down his career path.
At the top of the pile sits none other than Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, who has racked up 3,782 three-pointers. Harden acknowledged the challenge of catching up, stating, “I’m one of the most confident guys we have in this league, but no, I probably won’t catch Steph, and I don’t think anybody will, honestly.”
Despite going just 2 for 8 from beyond the arc during the game, Harden managed to stuff the stat sheet with 20 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. The weight of passing Allen—the player who held the record for over a decade after overtaking Reggie Miller—was not lost on him. To put things in perspective, Allen achieved his count over the course of 1,300 games. Harden, impressively, did it in just 1,086 games, underscoring his unique scoring prowess.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was quick to highlight the extraordinary capabilities of both Harden and Allen, noting, “Both of those guys are extraordinary shooters.” This sentiment hits home as both players are known for their ability to make difficult shots, whether it's off the dribble or from deep.
Harden, renowned not just for his shooting but also for his overall scoring ability, is one of only three players to have netted over 300 three-pointers in a single season, having achieved this feat with 378 during the 2018-19 season. The other two players to accomplish this are none less than Curry, who did it five times—including recording the highest-ever total of 402 during the 2015-16 season— and Klay Thompson, who made 301 last season.
Coach Lue also expressed admiration for Harden's versatility, saying, “To be a scorer at all three levels and to be second all-time in three-pointers made is crazy,” noting the range and difficulty of his successful shots. Harden's scoring portfolio includes various types of shots like step-backs, pocket threes, and jumpers off pick-and-rolls.
Besides this incredible three-point achievement, Harden sits comfortably at 15th on the NBA career points list and 13th for assists. The only other player who appears within the top 15 for all three categories is LeBron James, the current all-time scoring leader, who ranks fourth in assists and eighth for three-pointers made.
Since the inception of the three-point line, records have been redefined repeatedly, with the gap appearing to widen with changing styles of play. Allen first became the all-time leader during the 2010-11 season, and his record stood until March 2022 when Curry surpassed him.
This moment is undoubtedly special for Harden, who has shown remarkable resilience, skill, and dedication throughout his career. “Just to see what he has accomplished from being primarily a two-guard to transitioning to point guard, his whole career has been great,” said Lue.
With the opportunity to face Curry and the Warriors next, there's more on the horizon for Harden. Whether he can push his three-point total higher remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he’s firmly placed himself among the greats of the game, and he certainly isn’t taking his accomplishments lightly.
Harden's next challenge brings the Warriors to Southern California, where another competitive game awaits. Fans are already buzzing with excitement, eager to see the potential of Harden against his fellow sharpshooter, Curry, as they continue to write the history of the NBA one three-pointer at a time.
