James Harden Aims to Make 3-Point History as Clippers Face Rockets on Friday

Throughout his career, James Harden has shattered numerous scoring records, yet few players spark as much debate among fans as he does. But love him or not, one thing is undeniable: his scoring prowess is nothing short of extraordinary. A major weapon in Harden's offensive toolkit? His 3-point shooting.

Statistically, Harden ranks among the NBA's greatest ever from beyond the arc, and he's now on the verge of a milestone that once seemed out of reach. On Friday night, as the Los Angeles Clippers face the Houston Rockets, Harden will have the chance to topple Ray Allen as the player with the second most made 3-pointers in NBA history. Heading into Friday's game in Houston, James Harden is just three 3-pointers away from matching Ray Allen's mark for second place on the all-time 3-point list. With 2,970 triples to his name, Harden sits in third but could tie or even surpass Allen in the very city where he built much of his NBA legacy over eight memorable seasons. 

During his illustrious career, James Harden has maintained a three-point shooting percentage of 36.3%. Although that stat isn’t eye-catching by any yardstick, it’s still impressive when taking into consideration the volume of threes Harden took throughout his career. A whopping 2,029 of his 2,970 career 3-pointers came during his time with the Houston Rockets from 2012 to 2020, where he truly became a force from beyond the arc. It was in Houston where Harden truly made his mark.  

He wasn’t just a volume shooter—he was a leader. In three straight seasons (2017-2020), he dominated the 3-point category, leading the NBA in both makes and attempts. In 2017-18, he sank 265 out of 722 attempts; in 2018-19, he drained 378 from 1,028 attempts; and in 2019-20, he hit 299 from 843. This incredible scoring run earned him his MVP trophy in 2018, capping off a remarkable stretch that solidified his legacy as one of the best shooters in NBA history. The remaining 941 came in stops at Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and now the Los Angeles Clippers. 

With just four more 3-pointers needed to break Ray Allen's record, you can bet the Clippers will be looking to get the ball in Harden’s hands as much as possible. This season, Harden has been averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers per game, shooting at a clip of 31.3%. If he’s going to make history in Houston on Friday, he’ll need to dial in his shooting and step up his game. All eyes will be on him as he tries to surpass one of the NBA’s all-time greats.