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James Harden hits 25,000 NBA points, Nikola Jokic sets record
American player James Harden has reached a milestone that very few players have reached. The basketball player, who had wrangled a transfer before the season, has achieved it in his new position with the Los Angeles Clippers. Nikola Jokic rewrote NBA records.
It happened on the home court, when the Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors (121:113). Harden was the best player of the home team. He scored 28 points, 7 rebounds, but most importantly he dished out 15 accurate passes to his teammates. He also added one steal and 4 blocked shots.
His 28 points are a season-high for a Harden-type scorer, he was supported on offense by Kawhi Leonard’s 27 points and the Clippers celebrated their sixth win in a row. Harden seems to have settled in at his new home.
The 25,000-point mark is only the 24th in the long history of the NBA. He told the fans that it doesn’t matter if he scored two points or 28, but what matters is obviously winning. Harden is no longer chasing triple-doubles or 60-point performances, the key for him is finally a team title!
A reputation as a troubled player
James Harden is a great all-around basketball player. He has gold in his collection from the 2014 World Championships and the 2012 Olympic Games. However, he did not part on good terms with all the teams he played for. He packed up after three seasons with the Oklahoma Thunders, who made him a top three draft pick in 2009.
He ended up rather unexpectedly with the Houston Rockers. He spent nine full seasons there and had virtually all of the biggest successes of his career to date. But then, under the prospect of a title with a stronger team, he unexpectedly forced a move to the Brooklyn Nets. Here he was supposed to form a formidable team together with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but due to injuries it didn’t happen.
And after the season, he was forced to transfer again, this time to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he was supposed to form a super tandem with Joel Enbiid. After an early elimination in the playoffs, dissatisfaction again, including arguments with the team owner. So Harden packed his bags for the Los Angeles Clippers. We’ll see if he can finally last longer here.
Jokic has another NBA record
Nikola Jokic helped the Denver Nuggets to their 115th career triple-double in a 124-101 home win over the Brooklyn Nets. This time for 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. And he made NBA history again.
He is the first player in history to collect double-digit triple-doubles in seven consecutive seasons! Not even Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson or record holder Russell Westbrook could do it.
Source: NBA