Kenny Atkinson had plenty to say about James Harden's latest career milestone after the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Harden, a fixture in the NBA since 2009, has steadily climbed the ranks to become one of the league's all-time scoring greats. Heading into the matchup, he was just four points shy of the 29,000-point mark, inching closer to the legendary 30,000-point club.
In his 29 minutes on the court, Harden didn't just reach the milestone-he did it in style. His stat line boasted 21 points, complemented by five rebounds, five assists, and a block. He was efficient, shooting 6-of-11 from the field, knocking down 3-of-8 from deep, and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Kenny Atkinson calls James Harden’s 29,000 career point milestone a testament to his longevity and elite-level resiliency.
— clevelanddotcom Cavs (@PDcavsinsider) March 10, 2026
Video: Paris McGee Jr, Clevelanddotcom pic.twitter.com/KNkEFrC6TV
After the game, Atkinson shared his thoughts with reporter Paris McGee Jr., highlighting the significance of Harden's achievement. "It’s a testament to his resiliency," Atkinson remarked.
"It’s so hard in this league to do it for so long so consistently. This version we’re seeing of James, you don’t just think of scoring, I think of this complete player…when they announced it today, I was like in shock, 29,000 woah.
Incredible."
Atkinson's admiration for Harden's continued excellence was evident. As one of the league's premier veteran scorers, Harden now sets his sights on the 30,000-point milestone.
Cleveland's victory over Philadelphia was a team effort, with six players hitting double figures. Keon Ellis was a standout off the bench, dropping 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.
Donovan Mitchell contributed 17 points and six assists, while Evan Mobley added 15 points and eight boards. Dean Wade chipped in with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaylon Tyson added 11 points to the mix.
With this win, the Cavaliers improved to a 40-25 record, securing the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. They sit ahead of the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, while trailing the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.
Next up, the Cavaliers hit the road to face the Magic, with tip-off scheduled for March 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET.