NEW YORK – James Harden has overtaken Larry Bird on the all-time NBA scorecard and now ranks 34th overall. Harden hit the threshold by scoring 24 points Saturday night in the Brooklyn Nets’ 100-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
“We all know how good Larry was and the things he did in Boston,” Harden said. “A legend. And I think I play the game the right way and hopefully good things happen to me, passing one of the greatest basketball players ever is a great honor.”
Harden now has 21,792 points, one more than Bird.
Harden also had 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three starting blocks with 24 points on Saturday. It was Harden’s ninth triple-double since joining the Nets in mid-January. It is tied for the third-most double by a player in a single season in the Nets franchise, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
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James Harden was surprised at the post-game press conference when he was informed that he had put Larry Bird on the all-time scoring list.
He is also the fourth largest player in his first season with a team, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Harden scored the last 10 points of Saturday’s victory for Brooklyn – tying the second highest clutch score. With the victory over Detroit, the Nets improved to 8-1 when Harden recorded a triple-double, and he could overtake Gary Payton (21,813 points) and secure 33rd place overall, earning the next 22 points.
“I just have to keep building, because at the end of the day, I want my name to be mentioned along with the big ones,” Harden said.