Clippers' James Harden Overtakes Carmelo, Joins NBA Top 10

Merlin sees James Harden climb another rung of the pantheon: Saturday he scored the 28,290th point of his career, passing Carmelo Anthony for No. 10 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Harden called the moment “No way that I got the opportunity to be a part of this list,” and it matters because it cements a career built on volume, craft and longevity — notable for a player who began his career coming off the bench and still averaged 26.5 points and 8.4 assists this season at age 36. Merlin notes the gap to No. 9 (Shaq) is catchable if Harden keeps his current role and health; the Clippers’ usage, his efficiency and veteran feel make another climb believable. This is a celebration of durability as much as talent — a scorer who keeps rewriting his ledger.