James Harden is the shooting guard for the Brooklyn Nets. Harden was born on the 26th of August, 1989 in Los Angeles California. He played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009 were the two stand out honours he received as a college pro. Throughout his career, James Harden has been a part of three teams in his entire career. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a three-time NBA scoring champion.
Oklahoma City Thunder
James Harden played for the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2009 to 2012. OKC drafted Harden as the third overall pick in 2009. He recorded the fourth highest 3-point percentage in NBA history for a player under the age of 21. As a rookie, Harden made a very strong mark in the league. NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 2012 was awarded to James Harden. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3,7 assists in 62 games. James Harden helped the Oklahoma City Thunder reach the NBA Finals in 2012 but they were defeated by the Miami Heat.
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Houston Rockets
James Harden decided to decline the contract extension from OKC and was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2012. James was a foundational player on the Rockets roster. Harden was the first player in NBA history to put up 37 or more points with a double-digit assist on a team debut. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his first season with Houston.
In the 2014-15 season, James Harden was a contender for MVP but he finished second in the voting behind, Stephen Curry. He was however voted as the inaugural NBA MVP. The Golden State Warriors eliminated the Houston Rockets in the conference finals. The 2015-16 season saw Harden set a record-breaking 374 turnovers.
James Harden signed a four-year extension in 2016. He had an incredible season and became the fourth player in the NBA with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in consecutive games. He became the first player in NBA history to finish a season with 2356 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds. The San Antonio Spurs eliminated the Houston Rockets in round 2 of the Playoffs.
Final Years At Houston: James Harden Wins MVP
The 2017-18 season saw James Harden reach his prime. The star earned the richest contract in NBA history with a total six-year deal worth $228 million. Harden was the first player to score 50 or more points in consecutive games since Kobe Bryant did in 2007. James Harden had one of the best seasons of his career, earning him a well-deserved MVP award. The Houston Rockets however could not seal the deal and bring home a ring.
The 2019-20 season was no different, James Harden came out all guns blazing. The shooting guard became the fourth player in NBA history with multiple games of 10 or more 3-pointers. He finished the decade as the NBA’s leading scorer with 19,578 points. In the Rockets’ first game after the suspension of the season due to COVID-19, Harden became the second-highest scorer in franchise history.
Brooklyn Nets
Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal that involved the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers in 2021. James Harden was now a part of a super team. He was surrounded by stars including, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin. Harden set the record for being the first player in NBA history to post a 30-point triple-double debut performance.
The Brooklyn Nets made the playoffs in the 2021 season. Due to a hamstring injury, Harden’s playoff run was cut short. He finished the post-season with 20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game. The Milwaukee Bucks eliminated the Brooklyn Nets in the conference semi-finals.
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