Clippers' Harden passes Carmelo for 10th on scoring list - ESPN

LA Clippers star James Harden entered the NBA's top 10 of all-time scorers, surpassing Carmelo Anthony at No. 10 on the list during Saturday's 109-106 loss to the host Minnesota Timberwolves.

Entering the night needing 21 points to pass Anthony's total of 28,289, Harden scored 19 in the first half before passing him with two free throws at 4:23 of the third quarter. He finished with 34 points, bringing his career total to 28,303.

Next above Harden on the scoring list are Shaquille O'Neal, who is ninth with 28,596, and former teammate Kevin Durant, who is eighth with 31,024 points entering Saturday.

«You look at that list, it's like there's no way,» Harden said this week of being in the top 10. «There's no way I got an opportunity to be a part of this list. It's just literally like a dream come true. The work that I literally put in is coming to fruition. There's so many things that this game has done for me, and I'm sure for all those guys as well.

»And those names are still being talked about post basketball."

Harden, who entered Saturday averaging 26.5 points on the season, said he is amazed he made it this far when he looks at those in front of him in the top 10 — LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, Durant and O'Neal.

«I was looking at the list, and it's like all those guys are way bigger than me, way more athletic than me,» Harden said.

Harden is one of only three guards in the top 10, along with Bryant (33,643) and Jordan (32,292), who are fourth and fifth all time, respectively.

«They were flying,» Harden said of Bryant and Jordan. «I mean, I've been playing everything on the ground. So that's another reason why I'm proud of myself just