James Harden

James Harden
Born	James Edward Harden Jr. (1989-08-26) August 26, 1989 United States
Occupation	Professional basketball player
Years active	2009–present
Known for	NBA shooting guard, NBA 75th Anniversary Team, two Olympic gold medals

James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989) is a professional basketball player from the United States currently competing for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Recognized as one of the all-time premier shooting guards and offensive talents in NBA history, Harden was honored with a spot on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He has secured two gold medals representing the United States men's national basketball team, triumphing at both the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Harden is commonly referred to as "the Beard" due to his signature facial hair.

During his collegiate career at Arizona State, Harden achieved consensus All-American status and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected him third overall in the 2009 NBA draft. Harden earned the Sixth Man of the Year title in 2012 and played a key role in Oklahoma City's run to the 2012 NBA Finals, where they fell to the Miami Heat.

Following Oklahoma City's decision not to offer him a maximum contract extension, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets prior to the 2012–13 season. In his debut season with Houston, he established or matched several franchise records, securing his first All-NBA Third Team and NBA All-Star honors. Over seven complete seasons with the Rockets, Harden led the league in scoring three times and assists once, earned the MVP award in , and guided Houston to an appearance in the Western Conference Finals. His accolades include six All-NBA First Team selections and seven straight All-Star nods.

At the outset of the 2020–21 campaign, Harden requested a trade and was subsequently involved in a four-team deal that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets. While with Brooklyn, he achieved his ninth and tenth consecutive All-Star appearances before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2022 trade deadline. In 2023, Harden once again topped the league in assists. Ahead of the 2023–24 season, he was traded to the Clippers and later earned his 11th All-Star Game selection in 2025.

High school career

Harden attended Artesia High School located in Lakewood, California. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.2 points per game while leading Artesia to a 28–5 record. During his junior year, he improved his performance to average 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest, guiding Artesia to capture the California state championship with a 33–1 record. The team successfully defended their state title during Harden's senior year, finishing with a 33–2 record; he maintained similar statistics with averages of 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Harden received recognition as a McDonald's All-American and was named second-team Parade All-American.

Additionally, he led his AAU squad, Pump-N-Run Elite, to victory at the 2006 Las Vegas Adidas Super 64 tournament by scoring 34 points against DC Assault, which featured prominent players such as Michael Beasley. In that championship game, Pump-N-Run Elite defeated Southern California All-Stars led by Kevin Love.

College career

In his freshman season at Arizona State, expectations were modest as the team was projected to finish ninth within the Pacific-10 Conference. Harden posted averages of 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while helping the Sun Devils achieve a 21–13 overall record (9–9 in conference play), tying for fifth place in Pac-10 standings. Although they did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, Arizona State advanced to the second round of the NIT.

Harden received first-team All-Pac-10 honors along with conference all-freshman recognition and was selected for first-team All-District by both NABC and USBWA. Prior to his sophomore year, he garnered attention on multiple preseason All-American lists and appeared on Sports Illustrated’s college basketball preview cover; he was also included on the Wooden Award preseason watch list. On November 30, 2008, Harden scored a career-best 40 points during an 88–58 victory over UTEP.

Concluding his sophomore campaign with averages of 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, Harden earned a spot on the All-Pac-10 Tournament Team following Arizona State’s loss against USC at the Staples Center. He was honored as Pac-10 Player of the Year and recognized as a consensus All-American. After Arizona State’s second-round exit from the NCAA tournament against Syracuse, Harden declared for the 2009 NBA draft, represented by agent Rob Pelinka.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)

Harden was chosen as the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the 2009–10 season, he achieved the fourth highest three-point shooting percentage (.375) in NBA history for players under 21 years old with a minimum of 150 attempts. Over two games, he connected on seven straight three-pointers, marking the longest streak by a rookie since 1999. His performance earned him a place on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In the following season, 2010–11, Harden scored at least 10 points in 54 contests, reaching a season-best 26 points against the Phoenix Suns on March 6, 2011. Throughout the lockout-shortened 2011–12 campaign, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 62 games (starting twice), which led to him receiving the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He posted double-digit scoring in all but four games and hit a season-high of 40 points versus Phoenix on April 18, becoming the first bench player to reach that mark since 2010. Harden played a key role in guiding Oklahoma City to the 2012 NBA Finals, where they were defeated by the Miami Heat in five games.

During the 2012 free agency period, Oklahoma City extended a four-year offer worth between $52 million and $55 million to Harden; however, he felt rushed by the limited time available to make a decision.

2012–2013: First All-Star and All-NBA honors

After contract extension talks with the Thunder fell through, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets on October 27, 2012, along with Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich, and Lazar Hayward. In exchange, Oklahoma City received Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round draft selections (later used for Steven Adams and Mitch McGary), and a second-round pick (Álex Abrines). Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey described Harden as a "cornerstone" player expected to take charge despite previously playing behind stars such as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. On October 31, Harden agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $80 million.

In his Rockets debut, Harden became the first NBA player to record at least 37 points coupled with double-digit assists in his inaugural game for a new team, tallying 37 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, four steals, and one block during a 105–96 victory over the Detroit Pistons. This performance ranked as the third-highest scoring debut for any NBA player and placed him among only four players in the past quarter-century to achieve those statistics. Two days later, he scored 45 points against the Atlanta Hawks, setting an NBA record for most points (82) scored across a player's first two games with a franchise, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's previous total of 79 points. Harden recorded his first career triple-double on February 2, 2013, posting 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists versus the Charlotte Bobcats. He earned his inaugural All-Star selection as a reserve for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, contributing 15 points in the Western Conference's 143–138 victory. On February 20, Harden registered a personal best of 46 points in a win over his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In his initial year with Houston, Harden delivered one of the franchise’s most impressive statistical seasons. He became just the fifth player in Rockets history to surpass 2,000 points in a single season (totaling 2,023) and broke Moses Malone's franchise record for free throws made in one season (630). Harden joined an elite group alongside Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant, and Jerry Stackhouse as one of only four players to convert at least 600 free throws while making over 150 three-pointers within one season. Additionally, he equaled Rockets legends like Tracy McGrady and Hakeem Olajuwon by receiving Player of the Week honors three or more times during that campaign. His outstanding play earned him a spot on the 2012–13 All-NBA Third Team, making him just the seventh player from Houston to receive All-NBA distinction.

2013–2014: Initial All-NBA First Team Recognition

Head coaches selected Harden as a reserve for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, marking his second consecutive appearance in the event, and he was subsequently named a replacement starter. He made history as the first Rockets player to be honored as Western Conference Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks within the same season (February 24 – March 2; March 3–9). On December 26, 2013, facing the Memphis Grizzlies, Harden established an NBA record by scoring at least 27 points while making two or fewer field goals (2–9 FG), converting a career-best 22-of-25 free throws, which tied the Rockets' single-game free throw mark. By February 5, 2014, Harden became only the third player in franchise history to reach at least 3,000 points within his first 120 games with Houston, joining Elvin Hayes and Tracy McGrady. On February 25, he posted a season-high of 43 points during a victory over the Sacramento Kings. At season’s end, Harden was honored with All-NBA First Team selection.

2014–2016: MVP Contention and Turnover Milestone

At the start of the season, Harden emerged as a strong MVP candidate, registering over 40 points in three of six games. In April 2015, he became the first Rocket to record two 50-point games in one season and played a crucial role in leading Houston to its first division championship since 1994, earning the Western Conference's No. 2 seed. Harden repeated as an All-NBA First Team member and finished runner-up in MVP voting to Stephen Curry. Additionally, he was awarded the inaugural National Basketball Players Association MVP for the 2014–15 season.

During the playoffs, Harden achieved his first triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Clippers, although coach Kevin McHale benched him late in Game 6. He scored a playoff career-best 45 points in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Golden State Warriors, but committed a playoff-record 13 turnovers and struggled with shooting in Game 5 as Houston was eliminated.

In November 2015, Harden became the first Rocket since Moses Malone to score over 43 points in consecutive games. After a disappointing start to the season (4–7), McHale was dismissed; he later implied that Harden had intentionally arrived at training camp overweight to prompt his firing. On January 20, Harden recorded at least 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists—a statistical achievement not matched since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. In March, he surpassed thresholds of more than 450 points, 150 assists, and 100 rebounds within a single month for the first time since Oscar Robertson in 1967.

Harden set a new NBA single-season record by accumulating 374 turnovers during the 2015–16 campaign, breaking Artis Gilmore's previous mark from when turnovers were initially tracked. He also posted career-best averages of 29 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game, joining an elite group including LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Oscar Robertson who have maintained such numbers across an entire season.

2016–2017: Transition to Point Guard and Leading Assists

On July 9, 2016, Harden secured a four-year contract extension worth $118.1 million with the Rockets. In September, newly appointed head coach Mike D'Antoni declared that Harden would take on the point guard responsibilities for the upcoming season. In the opener on October 26, Harden delivered a performance of 34 points, a personal best of 17 assists, and eight rebounds during a narrow loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming only the second player in NBA history to tally at least 30 points and 15 assists in an opening game.

On December 14, Harden notched his fourteenth career triple-double with totals of 15 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings, tying franchise legend Hakeem Olajuwon for most triple-doubles in Rockets history. Two days later, he contributed to setting an NBA record with a combined team total of 24 three-pointers in a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, finishing with stats of 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. On December 23, he matched his career high by dishing out seventeen assists despite a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

On December 31, Harden recorded an extraordinary triple-double featuring 53 points, seventeen assists, and sixteen rebounds during a win against the New York Knicks. This made him the first player ever to complete a game with at least fifty points alongside fifteen or more assists and rebounds. He equaled Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most points scored in a triple-double while setting personal bests for both points and three-pointers made (nine), marking his fourth career game scoring fifty or more.

Two days following this performance, Harden secured his ninth triple-double of that season in a victory over the Washington Wizards and earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors for a third time—matching Olajuwon’s franchise record of twelve total Player of the Week awards. His outstanding play throughout December also garnered him Western Conference Player of the Month recognition.

Harden’s back-to-back triple-doubles on January 8 and January 10 placed him among only four NBA players to record consecutive games with at least forty points along with ten rebounds and ten assists. On January 27, he achieved his fourteenth triple-double of the campaign by scoring fifty-one points—becoming the first player ever to register multiple fifty-point triple-doubles within one season. On February 3, Harden surpassed Yao Ming to claim sixth place on Houston’s all-time scoring list after reaching his ten-thousandth point as a Rocket.

On February 11 against the Phoenix Suns, Harden scored forty points in under thirty minutes—the first Rocket to do so since Sleepy Floyd back in 1991. Between March12 and March18, he produced four consecutive triple-doubles for a total of nineteen on the season. He concluded with twenty-two triple-doubles overall and became the first player to finish an NBA regular season compiling at least two thousand points (2,356), nine hundred assists (907), and six hundred rebounds (659). Leading all players with an average of eleven point two assists per game that year, Harden finished second in MVP voting behind former teammate Russell Westbrook.

During Game5 of Houston’s second-round playoff series versus the San Antonio Spurs, Harden recorded his second career postseason triple-double with thirty-three points, ten rebounds, and ten assists in an overtime loss that put Houston behind three games to two. The Rockets were eliminated following Game6 where Harden managed just ten points before fouling out late in that contest.

2017–2018: MVP Campaign and Leading Scorer

On July 8, 2017, Harden agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Rockets worth $160 million, culminating in a six-year guaranteed deal valued at $228 million—the highest in NBA history. On November 5, he delivered a personal best of 56 points during a 137–110 victory over the Utah Jazz, just one point shy of the franchise’s single-game scoring record. Harden became one of only two players alongside Wilt Chamberlain to record at least 10 assists and shoot over 75% in a game scoring 50 or more points. He was the first Rocket to score 20-plus points in each of the season’s opening 20 games and earned the Western Conference Player of the Month honors for both October and November.

On December 9, Harden tallied 48 points versus the Portland Trail Blazers, marking him as only the second player since the 1990–91 season to post 20 or more points in each of the first 24 games. Despite his 51-point effort on December 20, Houston’s 14-game winning streak ended with a loss to the Lakers. Harden established a franchise record by scoring at least 20 points in 30 consecutive games. Two days later, he notched another 51 points in a defeat against the Clippers, becoming the first Rocket to record back-to-back 50-point games and the first NBA player to do so since Kobe Bryant in 2007.

Harden sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain on December 31, sidelining him for seven contests. By January 26, he had climbed to second place on the Rockets’ all-time assists list with 3,347. On January 30, he made NBA history by posting a 60-point triple-double against Orlando, surpassing Calvin Murphy’s franchise single-game scoring mark. On March 25, Harden contributed a triple-double that helped Houston achieve a franchise-record 60 wins. The Rockets concluded the regular season as the top seed with an unprecedented 65–17 record. Harden secured his inaugural scoring title with an average of 30.4 points per game—second highest in franchise history.

During the playoffs, Harden scored 44 points in Game 1 against Minnesota and followed up with a 41-point performance against Utah in the second round. In the Western Conference Finals facing Golden State, he delivered multiple high-scoring outings; however, Houston fell in seven games despite his significant contributions.

In June, Harden was honored as the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017–18 season, becoming only the third Rocket to receive this distinction after Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon. Additionally, he earned his second MVP award voted by fellow players through the National Basketball Players Association.

2018–2019: Personal Best Scoring Season

The Rockets started the campaign with an 11–14 record but improved to 21–15 by late December, largely due to Harden’s leadership while All-Star Chris Paul was sidelined by a hamstring injury. On January 11, Harden recorded 43 points, along with 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a commanding 141–113 victory over Cleveland, extending his NBA record streak to twelve consecutive games with at least five made three-pointers. He surpassed franchise records by achieving thirteen games scoring over forty points and continued to lead amid injuries affecting Paul and Eric Gordon.

On January 23, Harden posted a career-high of 61 points coupled with fifteen rebounds during a narrow 114–110 win over the New York Knicks, marking his streak of consecutive thirty-point games at twenty-one—the fourth longest in NBA history. By February, he had set the third longest streak of consecutive games scoring thirty or more points and eclipsed Wilt Chamberlain’s second-longest streak with thirty-two such games. After missing one game due to illness and neck strain, his streak ended at thirty-two on February 25.

On March 19, Harden became the first NBA player ever to score at least thirty points against every other team within a single season. He amassed seven fifty-point performances that year, including matching his career-best sixty-one points on March 22 against San Antonio. These feats earned him his fourth Western Conference Player of the Week award that season.

On March 31, Harden notched his ninth fifty-point game of the regular season accompanied by a triple-double against Sacramento—setting an NBA record for most such games—and became only the ninth player to reach two thousand career three-pointers made. By April 3, he ranked as just the third player ever to accumulate over two thousand seven hundred points and five hundred assists within one season.

In an emphatic April 7 win over Phoenix, Harden matched Kobe Bryant’s record for most thirty-point games in a season (56) over recent decades and joined Michael Jordan as one of two players achieving at least two thousand seven hundred points, five hundred assists, and five hundred rebounds during a single campaign. Furthermore, he became one of only two players averaging minimums of thirty points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals per game throughout that season. Harden concluded with the largest margin between himself and the runner-up scorer since Wilt Chamberlain’s dominance in the early sixties.

In postseason action, Harden led Houston to victory in Game 2 against Utah with his third career playoff triple-double. Despite setting an NBA playoff record for most consecutive missed shots without conversion (0-of-15) in Game 3, he contributed critical assists and defensive plays that helped secure a series advantage. Ultimately, Houston was eliminated by Golden State in the conference semifinals. Harden received unanimous selection to his fifth All-NBA First Team and was named an MVP finalist for the campaign.

2019–2021: Third straight scoring crown and trade demand

Following a sluggish beginning, shooting just 28.6% from the field and 15% from beyond the arc in his first three contests, Harden exploded for 59 points on 18-of-32 shooting along with nine assists during a 159–158 victory over the Washington Wizards on October 30, 2019—falling two points short of his personal best. This achievement extended his streak of 50-point games to six consecutive seasons, a mark surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain’s ten. On November 11, Harden earned the Western Conference Player of the Week accolade after posting averages of 40.7 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.0 rebounds across a perfect 3–0 run, including making 22 three-pointers at a 43.1% clip.

In the first nine games, Harden amassed 334 points over 318 minutes—the highest total since Michael Jordan’s 337 points in the 1988–89 season—and drained 39 three-pointers, ranking fourth all-time for that stretch and second only to Stephen Curry. On November 30, he delivered a season-best 60 points with eight assists during a commanding 158–111 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks, marking his fourth career game with at least 60 points—tying Michael Jordan for third place in that category. Harden joined an elite trio of players to score 60 points within just three quarters and set an NBA record for the fewest shot attempts (24) in a game with 60 points.

On December 11, Harden recorded an efficient 55-point performance (20-of-34 FG, 10-of-18 three-pointers) in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming only the fourth player to have multiple games featuring ten or more made triples. Just two days later versus the Orlando Magic, he tallied 54 points along with seven assists and five rebounds, marking his third career occurrence of consecutive games scoring at least 50 points. Harden became the first player ever to post back-to-back contests with both 50+ points and a minimum of ten three-pointers, joining Stephen Curry as the only players to have consecutive games with double-digit threes. Additionally, he surpassed Paul Pierce to move into eighth place on the all-time career three-pointers made list.

On December 21, Harden overtook Elgin Baylor for the record of most games scoring at least 40 points in NBA history during a victory over the Phoenix Suns. His outstanding play throughout December earned him Western Conference Player of the Month honors. By decade’s end, he had established himself as the NBA’s top scorer since January 2010 with a total of 19,578 points—even though he began that period serving as a sixth man with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Following the COVID-19 hiatus, Harden posted a near triple-double effort—49 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists—in an overtime comeback win against the Dallas Mavericks, becoming Houston’s second-leading scorer in franchise history. Between 2018 and 2020, he became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to register at least twenty games scoring forty or more points within any three-year span. Harden clinched his third straight scoring title while also leading the league in total steals. He was named an MVP finalist and earned a spot on the NBA's All-Seeding First Team. However, Houston’s playoff run ended in the second round after being defeated by the Lakers.

During the offseason, both general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D'Antoni departed from Houston. In November 2020, Harden formally requested a trade and was late reporting to training camp. On December 26, he notched a season-high 44 points and tied his career-best with 17 assists in an overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)

Toward the close of 2020, Harden requested a trade to join the Brooklyn Nets, aiming to create a star-studded lineup alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. On January 14, 2021, Harden was acquired by the Nets through a complex four-team transaction that also involved the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers, with several players and draft picks moving to the Rockets. In his first game on January 16, he notched 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists, becoming both the franchise’s first and only player—and seventh in NBA history—to achieve a triple-double in their debut. This performance also set Nets records for most assists and a 30-point triple-double in a first appearance.

Harden secured his initial Eastern Conference Player of the Week award on February 2 after averaging 25.3 points and 11.3 assists across three games. By February 19, he had established a franchise record by recording double-doubles in eleven straight contests. Following this streak, Harden earned another Player of the Week honor on February 22, having propelled Brooklyn to four consecutive victories with averages of 31.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. He was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, marking his ninth straight All-Star nod.

On March 1, Harden delivered a remarkable triple-double without committing any turnovers, guiding the Nets to their first triumph in San Antonio in nearly two decades. For his efforts throughout February, Harden was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month—the first Net to receive this accolade since Vince Carter in 2007—after leading Brooklyn to a 9–4 record while averaging 25.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and topping the league with 10.7 assists per game.

Harden maintained his dominant form throughout March with several triple-doubles, surpassing Larry Bird on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and setting new franchise benchmarks for triple-doubles within a single season. A standout performance occurred on March 17 when he posted a season-best 40 points along with 15 assists and 10 rebounds, joining Vince Carter as one of only two Nets players to record a 40-point triple-double and ranking second overall behind Oscar Robertson for such feats.

After missing time due to neck soreness and a hamstring injury, Harden returned to deliver career-high outputs including a 44-point game on March 26 and matched Jason Kidd’s franchise record for most triple-doubles in one season on March 29. He earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors again for March—becoming the first player in NBA history to claim this award during each of his initial two full months with a new team—as he helped Brooklyn achieve an NBA-best 11–2 record that month.

Returning from injury on May 12, Harden came off the bench for the first time since 2012 and contributed a double-double against San Antonio. In the opening round of the playoffs, he secured a triple-double to close out the series versus Boston. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring re-injury early in Game 1 of the conference semifinals against Milwaukee, causing him to miss multiple games before rejoining in Game 5; despite strong individual performances from Harden, Brooklyn ultimately fell in overtime during Game 7.

During the 2021–22 campaign, Harden surpassed Kyle Korver on October 22 to move into fourth place on the all-time three-pointers made leaderboard. He achieved season-high scoring totals of 39 points on November 12 and replicated this output several times while delivering solid rebounding and assist numbers through November and December. After entering health-and-safety protocols mid-December, Harden returned on Christmas Day with a triple-double that included blocks against the Los Angeles Lakers.

He continued producing influential performances with highlights such as a season-high 15 assists on December 27 and multiple games with double-digit assists extending into January. On February 3, Harden was once again named an Eastern Conference reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, marking his tenth consecutive selection.

Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)

On February 10, 2022, the Brooklyn Nets traded James Harden along with Paul Millsap to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round draft selections. Harden switched his jersey number from 13 to 1, as the 76ers had retired No. 13 in honor of Wilt Chamberlain. He made his debut on February 25, contributing 27 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Just two days later, Harden achieved his 68th career triple-double by posting 29 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds against the New York Knicks, becoming the first NBA player to record at least 25 points and 10 assists in each of his first two games with a new franchise. On March 10, Harden surpassed Reggie Miller to claim third place on the NBA’s all-time three-point shooting list.

During the playoffs, Harden delivered several crucial performances including a double-double with 22 points and 14 assists in Game 1 versus the Toronto Raptors on April 16. He played a pivotal role in advancing Philadelphia to the Eastern Conference semifinals following a Game 6 win on April 28. In Game 4 against the Miami Heat, Harden scored 31 points; however, the Sixers were ultimately eliminated in Game 6.

On July 27, 2022, Harden inked a new two-year contract with Philadelphia worth $68.6 million that included a player option for the 2023–24 season. On December 9, he tallied 28 points and 12 assists during an overtime victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, joining LeBron James and a select few as players with more than 23,000 career points and over 6,500 assists. Harden recorded a triple-double featuring a franchise-tying record of 21 assists on December 23. By February 23, he had climbed past Allen Iverson to become No. 26 on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart.

On March 6, Harden notched his second career game with at least 20 assists while teammate Joel Embiid scored over 40 points—marking an NBA first where teammates accomplished this feat multiple times within one season. He concluded the regular season as the league leader in assists per game with an average of 10.7. Harden and Embiid made history as the first teammates since the 1981–82 campaign to lead the NBA in assists and scoring respectively.

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2023 postseason, Harden posted a playoff career-best of 45 points in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics despite Embiid’s absence. He followed this by hitting a game-winning three-pointer in Game 4 while nearly securing another triple-double. This achievement placed him alongside Jerry West, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant as one of only four guards with ten or more playoff games scoring at least forty points. The Sixers eventually fell in a seven-game series.

Following that season, Harden opted into his $35.6 million player option but requested a trade. After negotiations with the Los Angeles Clippers stalled, Harden openly criticized Sixers executive Daryl Morey and declared he would not participate in any organization involving Morey.

2023–24 season

On November 1, 2023, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired James Harden along with P. J. Tucker and Filip Petrušev from Philadelphia in exchange for Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr., and Robert Covington. The deal also included sending a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap, and cash considerations to the Sixers while transferring a pick swap and cash to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This trade reunited Harden with Russell Westbrook for their second stint together.

Harden made his Clippers debut on November 6 against the New York Knicks, contributing 17 points and six assists across 31 minutes during a 111–97 loss. On November 17, he delivered a performance of 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, capped by a game-winning three-pointer in a narrow victory over the Houston Rockets. On December 14 against the Golden State Warriors, Harden posted totals of 28 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds, and four blocks in a commanding win that made him just the twenty-fourth player in NBA history to reach at least 25,000 career points. Four days later versus the Indiana Pacers, he scored a season-high of 35 points alongside nine assists during a dominant offensive display.

On January 26, 2024, Harden secured his milestone seventy-fifth career triple-double by recording 26 points, ten rebounds, and thirteen assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors (127–107). On February 2 against Detroit Pistons in a victory of 136–125, Harden and Westbrook became only the third duo in NBA history with both players exceeding career totals of more than twenty-five thousand points while playing together—joining notable pairs from Lakers and Nets franchises. By March 17, Harden had overtaken Vince Carter to move into twentieth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring leaderboard. On April 4 versus Denver Nuggets, he became only the fourth player ever to amass at least twenty-five thousand points along with seven thousand assists and six thousand rebounds—joining elite company including LeBron James, Oscar Robertson, and Westbrook.

2024–25 season

On July 10, 2024, Harden committed to the Clippers by signing a two-year contract worth $70 million.

During a November 2 game against the Phoenix Suns, Harden achieved his 78th career triple-double, matching Wilt Chamberlain for seventh place in NBA history, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 125–119 defeat. Additionally, he became the 20th player in league history to surpass 26,000 career points. On November 15, Harden equaled Ray Allen for second place on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made list, trailing only Stephen Curry, during a 125–104 loss to his former team, the Houston Rockets. Two days later, he overtook Allen to claim sole possession of second place after competing against the Utah Jazz.

Harden tallied 43 points on November 27 in a 121–96 victory over the Washington Wizards, marking his 100th career game with at least 40 points. This achievement placed him alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant as the only players with 100 or more such performances. On December 1, he narrowly missed another triple-double by scoring 39 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists in a 126–122 win over the Denver Nuggets. In that game, Harden also reached his 3,000th career three-pointer, joining Curry as the only players to reach this milestone.

On January 30, Harden was selected as a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, marking his eleventh All-Star appearance. By February 20, he had accumulated 24 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming just the 13th player in NBA history to eclipse 27,000 career points. On March 5, Harden posted his first 50-point performance since 2019 during a 123–115 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Harden recorded his 80th career triple-double on April 11 with a stat line of 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a tight 101–100 victory against the Sacramento Kings. Two days later, he contributed 39 points, seven rebounds, and ten assists—scoring 12 of the Clippers’ 13 overtime points—in a thrilling 124–119 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors that secured the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. Throughout the 2024–25 NBA season, Harden started in 79 games and averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per contest.

2025–26 season

On June 29, 2025, Harden opted out of his player option but re-signed with Los Angeles on a two-year deal valued at $81.5 million.

On November 10, Harden posted a triple-double featuring 35 points—including an impressive 19 in the fourth quarter—10 rebounds, and 11 assists during a narrow 105–102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Just four days later, he notched his 82nd career triple-double with an outstanding performance of 41 points,14 rebounds, and11 assists in a double-overtime victory (133–127) over the Dallas Mavericks. At age36 years and81 days,Harden set an NBA record as the oldest player to achieve a40-point triple-double,surpassing former greatLarry Bird. He currently holds both the franchise records for most triple-doubles and for recording the first-ever40-point triple-double in Clippers history.

Harden scored28 points on November17 during a110–108 loss to thePhiladelphia76ers, becoming only the11th player in league history to exceed28,000 career points. Five days later,on November22,Harden established a Clippers franchise single-game scoring record with55 points—including an unprecedented27 first-quarter points—and matched his personal best by sinking10 three-pointers in a131–116 victory over theCharlotte Hornets. With this feat,Harden became unique as the only player holding single-game scoring records for multiple franchises,and joined elite company alongsideStephen Curry,LeBron James, andKobe Bryant as players aged36 or older who have scored55 or more points in a game.This performance also marked Harden’s25th game scoring at least50 points,tieing him with Kobe Bryant for third-most all-time.

Player profile

Measuring 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), Harden predominantly occupies the shooting guard position but is also capable of playing point guard. He holds the distinction of being the NBA's top left-handed scorer in history. From the 2012–13 through the 2019–20 seasons, Harden consistently averaged more than 25 points per game, establishing himself as one of the league’s most adaptable offensive threats. ESPN ranked him as the fifth-best shooter of the 2010s decade. His scoring repertoire features hallmark techniques such as the Euro step and a distinctive step-back jump shot.

Since his arrival with the Houston Rockets during the 2012–13 NBA season, Harden has amassed more points than any other player in that period and set the record for the highest number of unassisted three-point shots. Renowned for skillfully leveraging NBA rules to draw fouls, he leads in three-point shooting fouls drawn and topped the league in free throw attempts and made free throws from 2014–15 through 2019–20. With a career free throw percentage of 85.7%, Harden also excels in playmaking, orchestrating the Rockets’ offense with impressive assist totals. While playing point guard under coach Mike D'Antoni in early 2016–17, he averaged over 10 assists per game and remains Houston’s all-time leader in assists.

Although Harden’s offensive skills have earned widespread praise, his defense has attracted criticism, notably after a viral video in 2014 exposed defensive shortcomings. Committed to enhancing his defensive abilities, he made significant improvements during the offseason and demonstrated progress while representing the United States men's national basketball team, contributing to Houston’s success during regular seasons. Additionally, Harden set and subsequently surpassed the NBA single-season turnover record in back-to-back campaigns (2015–16 and 2016–17). His performance in critical playoff situations has also been subject to scrutiny due to inconsistencies.

National team career

Harden contributed to the United States men's national basketball team that captured gold at the 2012 Olympics and won the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014. Although considered for the 2016 Olympics, he ultimately withdrew from participation.

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City | 76 || 0 || 22.9 || .403 || .375 || .808 || 3.2 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .3 || 9.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City | 82 || 5 || 26.7 || .436 || .349 || .843 || 3.1 || 2.1 || 1.1 || .3 || 12.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City | 62 || 2 || 31.4 || .491 || .390 || .846 || 4.1 || 3.7 || 1.0 || .2 || 16.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 78 || 78 || 38.3 || .438 || .368 || .851 || 4.9 || 5.8 || 1.8 || .5 || 25.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 73 || 73 || 38.0 || .456 || .366 || .866 || 4.7 || 6.1 || 1.6 || .4 || 25.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 81 || 81 || 36.8 || .440 || .375 || .868 || 5.7 || 7.0 || 1.9 || .7 || 27.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | style="background:#cfecec;"|82*|| style="background:#cfecec;"|82*|| style="background:#cfecec;"|38.1*|| .439|| .359|| .860||6.1||7.5||1.7||.6||29.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"|Houston |81||81||36.4||.440||.347||.847||8.1||style="background:#cfecec;"|'11.2'*||1.5||.5||29.1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |

| style="text-align:left;" |Houston 
|72||72||35.4||.449||.367||.858||5.4||8.8||1.8||.7||style="background:#cfecec;" |30.4* 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 
| style="text-align:left;" |Houston 
|78||78||36.8||.442||.368||.879||6.6||7.5||| 2.0||| .7|||style="background:#cfecec;" |36.1* 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 
| style="text-align:left;" |Houston 
|68||68||36.5||.444||| .355||| .865|||6.6|||7.5|||1..8||| 0..9|||style="background:#cfecec; " |34..3* 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2 | 
| style="text-align:left;" |Houston 
|8|||8|||36..3||| .444||| .347||| .883|||5..1|||10..4|||0..9|||0..8|||24..8 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" |2020–21 Brooklyn Nets season 
|36|||35|||36..6||| .471||| .366||| .856||| 8..5|||10..9|||1..3|||0..8|||24..6 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2 | 
| style="text-align:left;" |2021–22 Brooklyn Nets season 
|44|||44|||37..0||| .414||| .332||| .869|||8..0|||10..2|||1..3|||..7|||22..5 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" |2021–22 Philadelphia 76ers season 
|21|||21|||37..7||| ..402||| ..326||| ..892|||7..1|||10..5|||1..2|||..2|||21..0 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 
| style="text-align:left;" |2022–23 Philadelphia 76ers season 
|58|||58|||36..8||| ..441||| ..385||| ..867|||6..1||||style="background:#cfecec; "|10..7*||||1..2||||..5||||21..0 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 
| style="text-align:left;" |2023–24 Los Angeles Clippers season 
|72||||72||||34..3||||428||||381||||878||||5..1||||8..5||||1..1||||..8||||16..6

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 
| style="text-align:left;" |2024–25 Los Angeles Clippers season 
|79||||79||||35..3||||410||||352||||874||||5..8||||8..7||||1..5||||..7||||22..8

|- class= "sortbottom"

| Career | | 1151 || 937 || 34. 8 || . 439 || . 363 || . 861 || 5. 6 || 7. 2 || 1. 5 || . 6 || 24. 1

| | All-Star | | 10 || 7 || 24. 7 || . 453 || . 418 || . 500 || 4. 5 || 5. 8 || . 7 || . 3 || 14. 9

Playoffs

|- | style="text-align:left;"|2010 | style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City | 6 || 0 || 20.0 || .387 || .375 || .842 || 2.5 || 1.8 || 1.0 || .2 || 7.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2011 | style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City | 17 || 0 || 31.6 || .475 || .303 || .825 || 5.4 || 3.6 || 1.2 || .8 || 13.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2012 | style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City | 20 || 0 || 31.5 || .435 || .410 || .857 || 5.1 || 3.4 || 1.6 || .1 || 16.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2013 | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 6 || 6 || 40.5 || .391 || .341 || .803 || 6.7 || 4.5 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 26.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2014 | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 6 || 6 || 43.9 || .376 || .296 || .900 || 4.7 || 5.8 || 2.0 || .2 || 26.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2015 | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 17 || 17 || 37.4 || .439 || .383 || .916 || 5.7 || 7.5 || 1.6 || .4 || 27.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2016 | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 5 || 5 || 38.6 || .410 || .310 || .844 || 5.2 || 7.6 || 2.4|| .2||26.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2017 | style="text-align:left;"|Houston | 11||11||37.0||.413||.278||.878||5.5||8.5||1.9||.5||28.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2018 | style="text-align:left;"|Houston |17||17||36.5||.410||.299||.887||5.2||6.8||2.2||.6||28.6 |-

| style="text-align:left;" | 2019 
| style="text-align:left;" | Houston 
|11||11||38.6||.413||.350||.837||6.9||6.6||2.2||.9|||31.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 2020 
| style="text-align:left;" | Houston 
|12||12||37.3|||.478||.333||.845||5.6||7.7||1.5|| .8|||29.6 

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 2021 
| style="text-align:left;" | Brooklyn 
|9||9||35.7|| .472|| .364||| .903|||6.3|||8.6|||1.7||| .7|||20.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 2022 
| style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia 
|12|||12|||39.9||| .405||| .368||| .893|||5.7|||8.6||| .8||| .7|||18.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 2023 
| style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia 
|11|||11|||38,8||| .393||| .378||| .873|||6,2|||8,3|||1,8|||,4|||20,3

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | 2024 
| style="text-align:left;" | L.A., Clippers 
|06||||06||||40,3||||449||||383||||906||||45||||80||||10||||21,2

|-

|-style=background:#efefef;|

style=text-align:center colspan=02 Career 173||||130||||36,2||||425||||340||||869||||55||||65||||16||||06||||22,5

College

|- | style="text-align:left;"|2007–08 | style="text-align:left;"|Arizona State | 34 || 33 || 34.1 || .527 || .407 || .754 || 5.3 || 3.2 || 2.1 || .6 || 17.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|2008–09 | style="text-align:left;"|Arizona State | 35 || 35 || 35.8 || .489 || .356 || .756 || 5.6 || 4.2 || 1.7 || .3 || 20.1 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career | 69 || 68 || 35.0 || .506 || .376 || .755 || 5.4 || 3.7 || 1.9 || .4 || 19.0

Personal life

Born in Los Angeles, California, Harden is the youngest among three siblings. He openly practices Christianity and has expressed gratitude for his faith, remarking, "I just want to thank God for everything he has done in my life". Harden started cultivating his distinctive beard in 2009, which evolved into a signature aspect of his identity, eventually leading to endorsement deals such as a custom candy collaboration with Trolli featuring his image.

On August 3, 2015, the sportswear brand Adidas extended a $200 million endorsement contract to Harden spanning thirteen years. Broadening his entrepreneurial ventures, on July 18, 2019, Harden acquired part-ownership stakes in Houston's professional soccer franchises: the Houston Dynamo (MLS) and the Houston Dash (NWSL). He described this investment as a means to strengthen his connection with Houston, stating, "Houston is my home now" and highlighting his dedication to the community.

Harden revealed on the television program Starting 5 that he is a father to a son named Jace.

Politics

On October 4, 2019, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a tweet supporting the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, which resulted in the Chinese Basketball Association suspending ties with the Rockets organization. In response to the controversy, James Harden issued an apology to China, stating, "We apologize. We love China."

On July 17, 2020, Harden encountered backlash for donning a pro-police mask associated with the Blue Lives Matter movement. Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug came to Harden’s defense on Twitter by stating "he don't have internet," suggesting Harden was unaware of the mask’s contentious symbolism. This phrase subsequently became a widely shared meme within social media circles focusing on rap culture and the NBA.

See also

• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career steals leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career free throw percentage leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA career triple-double leaders
• List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff assists leaders
• List of NBA career playoff steals leaders
• List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff games played leaders
• List of NBA career playoff minutes leaders
• List of NBA career playoff triple-double leaders
• List of NBA annual scoring leaders
• List of NBA annual assists leaders
• List of NBA annual 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-season scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-season 3-point scoring leaders

External links

• Profile at Arizona State Sun Devils