With a stepback 3-pointer in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets superstar James Harden became the 45th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points.
Harden entered the game with 19,990 career points.
The Beard is a bucket.
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 11, 2020
Harden now has 20,000 career points! 🚀#OneMission pic.twitter.com/6uny2AoNCw
According to Sportsnet, only six players scored their 20,000th point at a younger age than Harden. Those players? LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.
Additionally, Harden reached 20,000 points in the 17th-fewest games.
Here's how Harden got to that figure:
James Harden 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career points breakdown
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 11, 2020
7,378 — Twos
6,627 — Threes
5,995 — Free Throws pic.twitter.com/ApFZm01s4i
The only active players with more career points than Harden are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter.
Harden entered Sunday's game averaging 37.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game on the season. He had 22 points in the first half alone.
At 26-12, the Rockets have the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.
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