NEW YORK – James Harden has overtaken Larry Bird on the NBA All-Time Goal List and now ranks 34th overall. Harden hit the milestone 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 just played the game the right way, and I hope good things happen to me. Passing one of the greatest I’ve ever played basketball is a great honor.”
Now Harden has 21,792 points, one more than Bird.
Harden also had 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks to end his 24 points on Saturday. It was the ninth triple-double Harden has recorded since joining the Nets in mid-January. He is tied with the third triple of doubles recorded by a player in a single season in the Nets franchise, according to ESPN’s research on statistics and information.
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James Harden shows his surprise at the post-match press conference when he is informed that he has passed Larry Bird on the all-time scoring list.
It is also the fourth most played by a player in his first season with a team, according to Elias Sports Bureau data.
Harden scored the final 10 points of Saturday’s win in Brooklyn, tying his second points in a tie time. With the win over Detroit, the Nets improved to 8-1 when Harden recorded a triple-double and was able to outscore Gary Payton (21,813 points) and reach 33rd overall by scoring his next 22 points.
“I just keep building, because in the end I want my name to be mentioned with these grains,” Harden said.