James Harden has joined Golden State’s Stephen Curry as the only NBA players to hit 3,000 career 3-pointers.
Harden reached this milestone in the first half of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 126-122 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. He made three 3-pointers in the first half and three more in the second half, finishing with 39 points to lead the Clippers.
“Another one of those accomplishments that you never take for granted,” Harden said. “The amount of work that I’ve put in — countless days and nights where I put the work in — a lot of people don’t see it but the results happen, so I’m just thankful.”
Harden almost recorded a triple-double, finishing with nine rebounds and 11 assists.
This achievement capped off a great week for the 35-year-old guard. On Wednesday, he scored 43 points, his highest as a Clipper, in a road win over the Washington Wizards. This was also his 100th career game with 40 or more points, making him one of only four players, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan, to achieve this.
“He had that first quarter against Washington where he reminded people, ‘Hey, I can still go out here and drop 40 on you real quick,’” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
The Clippers are 13-9 without their superstar Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to play this season while dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.
Harden has been asked to take on more of the offensive responsibility in Leonard’s absence, as well as with Paul George leaving as a free agent in the offseason. He has risen to the challenge, and at times, like in the game against the Wizards, his performance has reminded people of his high-scoring days with the Houston Rockets.
Malone noted that Harden has grown and adjusted to his role as a point guard.
“He makes almost every key decision for their offense,” the coach said. “He can beat you with his playmaking as well, and that shows you the talent, that shows you the quality of his game, where he’s not solely the scorer.”
Harden is also helping the Clippers’ younger players, a role he says he is “very, very comfortable” with.
“It’s easy for me just because I’ve been in this situation for a lot of my NBA career. Just helping guys as much as I can to where it makes the game a lot easier for them,” he said. “It’s really fun.”
Norman Powell said that he and the other Clippers enjoy playing with Harden because they know he will get them the ball.
“It’s difficult to see from afar,” Powell said, “but on the floor knowing when to attack, knowing when to get his shot off, when to get the guys open, the pass that he makes. He knows how to get guys open and to get the most out of the team.”
