Even as a 36-year-old, James Harden is still putting up insane numbers this season.
With the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal injured this season, James Harden has turned out to be a one-man army for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Beard proved that once again during the Clippers’ recent 131-116 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
James Harden is averaging the most points per game as a shooting guard in Year 17 or later
Speaking of Harden’s performance against the Hornets, the 2018 NBA MVP recorded 55 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists in 35 minutes of playing time.
Following the terrific performance, Harden is now averaging 28.4 points per game this season. Why is that important? Well, this is the most PPG by a shooting guard in Year 17 or later.
If the season ended today, Harden would break Kobe Bryant’s record of 27.3 points per game set in the 2012-13 NBA season.
To put Harden’s longevity into perspective, NBA legends Michael Jordan (15 years) and Dwyane Wade (16 years) were already retired by this point.
Considering the Clippers’ current record of 5-11, if Harden leads his side to the 2026 playoffs, he will have a strong case as one of the best shooting guards to ever grace the hardwood.
James Harden matched another Kobe Bryant record
Since leaving the Houston Rockets in 2020, Harden has tweaked his game to become a pass-first player.
However, the Clippers’ early-season injury troubles have forced Harden to revisit his prime and become an elite scorer for the team.
So much so that Harden recently tied Bryant for scoring the most 50-point games in NBA history. The two stars are now tied for the third spot on the list.
As expected, the top two spots belong to Jordan (31) and Wilt Chamberlain (118).
Since Harden is already 36, it’s unlikely that he’ll surpass MJ and Chamberlain, but breaking the tie with Bryant seems like a reasonable thing for the Clippers star.
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