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James Harden · Through an unguardable series of sidesteps, stepbacks, and pivots, James Harden’s offensive repertoire ensures him the ability to walk onto any court across the NBA’s landscape and become its most prolific scorer. On December 3, 2024, such gifts allowed him the opportunity to leapfrog two of the game’s greatest scorers at once, and into No. 17 on the Association’s all-time leaderboards. Requesting a clearout even before crossing the L.A. Clippers’ midcourt logo, the three-time scoring champion prepares himself for the challenge of both Toumani Camara’s 6-foot-8 frame, and a game clock dwindled to its final seconds. In a style reserved for only the game’s smoothest bucket-getters, Harden checks a switch-hand dribble, between-the-leg, and sidestep from the checklist within the blink of one’s eye, gaining the needed separation to bury a buzzer-beating 28-footer over the Portland Trail Blazers. The milestone-capturing night left behind a victory — the Clippers’ ninth-straight win at Intuit Dome — and a memorable box score tally, as the future Hall of Famer collected 23 points, seven assists, one steal, three trifectas, and a +27 plus-minus. · State of Mint