On Friday night, James Harden joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only Philadelphia 76ers to record a 20-assist triple-double. The 10-time All-Star finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 21 assists in the Sixers’ 119-114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
He also finished 6 of 17 (35.3%) shooting from the floor and knocked down three 3-pointers. It was Harden’s ninth double-double and first triple-double of the 2022-23 season. The 14-year veteran still ranks eighth on the all-time triple-double list (70). However, he is eight short of tying Chamberlain (78).
James Harden is the second player in 76ers history to have a triple-double with 20 assists, joining Wilt Chamberlain with the Pistons in 1968.
Harden’s 21 wins tied the franchise record with Wilt and Morris Cheeks in 1982. pic.twitter.com/sIRYM8I8XY
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 24, 2022
According to a couple of NBA betting sites, James Harden has the 16th-best odds to win the MVP in 2023. However, few sportsbooks show better odds for Kevin Durant and teammate Joel Embiid. The 33-year-old must stay healthy if he wants even a slight chance of winning his second prize.
In the year In the year The Hall of Famer played the entire game, which was common for All-Stars at the time.
James Harden joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only 76ers record 20-assist triple-double, and remains eighth on the all-time triple-double list.
Moreover, they tied Harden Chamberlain and Maurice “Mo” Czechs for the franchise game assists record. “This is a very good company,” said the guard after the victory.
“Mo Chex was one of my coaches. [in Oklahoma City], and then Wilt, I feel like he has every record. So it is always a blessing to chat with some of the best basketball players to touch the basketball.
On October 30, 1982, Cheeks finished with 21 assists as the 76ers beat New Jersey 110-99. The Hall of Famer recorded 16 points, four steals and three rebounds while shooting 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the field. So, this is a huge achievement for James Harden.
He swept the home stand!
📹 Game Highlights vs. Clippers | 12.23.22
Presented by @cryptocom pic.twitter.com/fFfR4pajFm
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 24, 2022
Likewise, Harden wasn’t the only Sixer to make history on Friday. Joel Embiid finished the night with 44 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks in 38 minutes. The five-time All-Star is now tied with Chamberlain for most 40-point games by a 76er.
In 17 starts this season, James Harden is averaging 21.4 points, 6.6 boards, 10.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is also shooting 42.9% from the floor and 36.4% from beyond the arc.
“This is a generational scorer who took and decided to be a point guard, still score, but decided to be a point guard for this team,” Rivers said of Harden. It is a big thing for us that he is volunteering, leading the team, organizing us.
