James Harden Becomes Oldest Player To Record A 40 Point Triple Double

On November 14, 2025, James Harden etched his name into the NBA record books once again, becoming the oldest player in league history to record a 40-point triple-double. At 36 years and 81 days old, the LA Clippers guard surpassed Larry Bird's previous mark during a thrilling 133-127 double-overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks. 

Harden's record-setting performance of 41 points (13-for-25 FGA and 6-for-12 from three-point territory), 14 rebounds, and 11 assists came with a  career-high 51 minutes of playing time. Harden’s impressive stat line marked his 82nd career triple-double and made him the first player in the Clippers franchise history to post a 40-point triple-double. Harden has shown his ability to fill the box score throughout his career, including a 61-point night, a 17-rebound night, and a 21-assist night, but in a league where young legs tend to dominate, this is just as impressive. 

With his 17th career 40-point triple-double, Harden finds himself just five behind Oscar Robertson and four ahead of Russell Westbrook. Harden’s performance also made him the Clippers’ all-time leader in triple-doubles with eight and saw him overtake Magic Johnson on the all-time steals list with 1,725 steals.

The victory couldn't have come at a better time for Los Angeles. The Clippers entered the game saddled with a six-game losing streak, sitting at just 3-8 on the season. Their struggles have been riddled by injuries to key players, with Kawhi Leonard missing multiple games due to foot and ankle issues, and Bradley Beal sidelined with a hip injury that is expected to keep him out for the season.

Despite the team's 4-8 record and 11th-place standing in the Western Conference, Harden has remained a consistent force. Playing in all but one game, Harden leads the team in points (25), assists (9.1), and, regardless of standing just 6’5,” is second in rebounds (6.3). When asked about his performance, Harden emphasized his team's resilience: "I don't know. Just continued to fight, man. It hasn't been going well for us, but we're still gonna be resilient. We're still gonna fight. And tonight was one of those cases."