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Former NBA Champion Makes Intriguing Steph Curry, James Harden Statement

Ex-NBA champion Channing Frye got honest about Clippers guard James Harden and Warriors star Steph Curry

Logan Struck

Jan 29, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) meets with Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden after a game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Jan 29, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) meets with Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden after a game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
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In a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, LA Clippers star James Harden made NBA history.

Harden leapfrogged NBA legend Moses Malone to move into 11th place on the league's all-time scoring list with 27,416 career points. Harden is nearly a top-ten scorer in the history of the NBA, yet rarely gets recognized for it.

The 11-time All-Star, three-time scoring champ, two-time assist champ, 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year, and 2017-18 NBA MVP has been one of the top players of this generation but is commonly overshadowed by the other stars that have come up alongside him.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30)
April 30, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

13-year NBA veteran and former Cleveland Cavaliers champion Channing Frye had high praise for Harden, sharing an interesting take regarding him and Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry.

"He's one of the better shooters we never talk about, one of the better point guards that we don't talk about," Harden said. "No one ever talks about his work ethic. If Steph didn't exist, we would be absolutely talking about Harden as one of the best shooters ever."

Harden has already passed Ray Allen for second place on the NBA's all-time three-pointers made leaderboard with 3,144 but still trails first-place Curry by nearly 900. Curry has cemented himself as the greatest shooter of all time, but Harden is likely behind him at number two.

In year 16, Harden is averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.5 steals while knocking down 3.0 three-pointers per game, his highest mark since 2019-20. Harden has had to reinvent his game multiple times but continues to dominate at the highest level.

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Logan Struck
LOGAN STRUCK

Logan Struck is a writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's On SI since 2023

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