James Harden is quietly putting together a monster season

James Harden has been carrying a heavy workload over the first half of the 2024-25 NBA season. The veteran ball-handler has stepped into a leading role for the L.A. Clippers due to Kawhi Leonard's injury struggles. Harden, who has been surrounded by a vastly improved group of defensive-minded role players, has led the line for Ty Lue's team.

The 35-year-old former MVP is producing at an All-Star level. He averages 21.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. However, his heavy usage rate has impacted his efficiency, as he shoots 39.8 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three-point range.

On Sunday, Harden moved into 14th place for all-time points scored, overtaking Oscar Robertson. Harden now has 26,721 career points. He is 225 points behind Hakeem Olajuwon, who is in 13th place and 1,568 points behind Carmelo Anthony, who sits 10th on the list. 

Given Harden's current role in the Clippers rotation and his continued ability to spearhead a high-level NBA offense, there's no reason why he can't push to finish within the top 10 in all-time points scored before his career ends. Assuming he continues to average 21.4 points per game, it would take him 73 or 74 more regular-season games to achieve the feat.

For Harden, that goal gives him something to aim for, and a reason to keep performing at his current level. However, Harden's scoring is only one aspect of what makes him a high-level threat. His playmaking is an often-overlooked aspect of his skill set. He also sits 14th in all-time assists with 7,944. 

The only reason Harden's name hasn't been flooding the NBA news cycle is that he's playing for a Clippers team that is consistently overlooked. Right now, the Clippers have the second-best defense in the NBA and are fifth in the Western Conference. Due to the heliocentric nature of Harden's current role, the team ranks 22nd in the league for offensive rating. 

Harden's ability to thrive in such a limited offense is proof of his stellar year. As of Jan. 16, he was sixth in All-Star voting and wouldn't look out of place making his 11th appearance of his career. 

Harden has pieced together a strong season for the Clippers. Now that Leonard is back in the rotation, he could take his production to another level. Either way, though, producing at this level in his mid-30s is proof that Harden is a future Hall of Famer who is still talented enough to help a team contend for a championship. And that is exactly what the Clippers will be hoping for later this year.