James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Many people think he is one of the best scorers and shooting guards in NBA history. In 2021, he was named one of the league's top 75 players.

Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. In 2009, he was named an All-American and the Pac-10 Player of the Year. The Oklahoma City Thunder picked him third overall in the 2009 NBA draft. In 2012, he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. He helped the Thunder reach the NBA Finals, but they lost to the Miami Heat.

After not agreeing on a new contract, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2012–13 season. With the Rockets, he became an NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team. He led the league in scoring three times and assists once. In 2018, he won the NBA Most Valuable Player award. He was an All-Star for seven years in a row with Houston.

Later, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets and then to the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2023, he led the league in assists for the second time. James Harden has also won two gold medals with the U.S. national team. He won at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Early Basketball Years

High School Success

James Harden went to Artesia High School in Lakewood, California. In his second year, he scored 13.2 points per game. Artesia had a great record of 28 wins and 5 losses.

In his junior year, he improved a lot. He averaged 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He led Artesia to win the California state title with an amazing 33 wins and 1 loss. Artesia won the state championship again in his final year, with a 33-2 record. Harden had similar stats, showing how consistent he was. He was chosen as a McDonald's All-American, which is a big honor for high school players.

He also played for his AAU team, Pump-N-Run Elite. They won the 2006 Las Vegas Adidas Super 64 championship. Harden scored 34 points in the final game.

College Career at Arizona State

Harden played college basketball for Arizona State. In his first year, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. The team finished tied for fifth in the Pac-10. He was named first-team All-Pac-10.

In his second year, Harden scored even more, averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He scored a career-high 40 points in one game against UTEP. After this great season, he was named the Pacific-10 Conference's Player of the Year. He was also named an All-American. After his sophomore year, Harden decided to enter the 2009 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Journey

Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)

The Oklahoma City Thunder picked James Harden as the third overall player in the 2009 NBA draft. In his first season, he shot very well from three-point range. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

During the 2011–12 season, which was shorter due to a lockout, Harden averaged 16.8 points. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award award for being the best player coming off the bench. He helped the Thunder reach the 2012 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Miami Heat.

Houston Rockets (2012–2021)

Harden with the Rockets in 2012

After not agreeing on a new contract with the Thunder, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets in October 2012. The Rockets' general manager, Daryl Morey, saw Harden as a "foundational" player. Harden signed a big contract with the Rockets for five years.

Becoming an All-Star

On his first day with the Rockets, Harden made history. He scored 37 points and had 12 assists in his team debut. This was a record for a player's first game with a new team. Two days later, he scored 45 points. His 82 points in his first two games were the most ever for a player joining a new team.

In February 2013, Harden got his first triple-double (scoring double-digits in three stats: points, rebounds, and assists). He was chosen as a reserve for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, his first All-Star selection. He also scored a career-high 46 points against his old team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden had an amazing first season with Houston. He became only the fifth player in team history to score over 2,000 points in one season. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

Leading the League in Assists and Scoring

Harden shoots over John Wall in 2016

In July 2016, Harden signed a huge contract extension with the Rockets. New coach Mike D'Antoni decided Harden would play as the point guard. In the first game of the 2016–17 season, Harden had 34 points, a career-high 17 assists, and eight rebounds. He became only the second player in NBA history to have at least 30 points and 15 assists in an opening game.

On December 16, Harden helped the Rockets set an NBA record with 24 three-pointers in one game. He had 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. On December 31, 2016, Harden had an incredible game. He recorded a triple-double with 53 points, 17 assists, and 16 rebounds. He was the first player in NBA history to have a "50-15-15" stat line. He tied Wilt Chamberlain for the most points in a triple-double.

Harden finished the 2016–17 season with 22 triple-doubles. He was the first player in NBA history to have at least 2,000 points, 900 assists, and 600 rebounds in a season. He also led the league in assists, averaging 11.2 assists per game.

Winning MVP and Scoring Titles

On July 8, 2017, Harden signed another contract extension, making it the richest contract in NBA history at the time. On November 5, he scored a career-high 56 points against the Utah Jazz. He became the first player in team history to score at least 20 points in the first 20 games of a season.

On December 20, Harden scored 51 points, but the Rockets lost, ending their 14-game winning streak. Two days later, he scored 51 points again, becoming the first player in Rockets history to have two straight 50-point games.

On January 30, Harden made history again. He scored 60 points as part of a triple-double, with 10 rebounds and 11 assists. He was the first player in NBA history to do this. He broke the Rockets' single-game scoring record. The Rockets finished the season as the top team in their conference for the first time, with a 65–17 record. Harden won his first scoring title, averaging 30.4 points per game.

In June, James Harden was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017–18 season. He was the third player in Rockets history to win this award.

Career High in Scoring

The 2018–19 season was another huge scoring year for Harden. On January 23, he scored a career-high 61 points and had 15 rebounds against the New York Knicks. This was his 21st game in a row with at least 30 points. On February 21, he scored 30 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, extending his streak to 32 consecutive games with 30-plus points. This was the second-longest streak in NBA history.

On March 19, he became the first player in NBA history to score 30 or more points against all 29 other teams in a single season. On March 31, Harden had 50 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This was his fifth career 50-point triple-double, the most of any player in NBA history. He also joined a small group of players to make 2,000 three-pointers in their career.

Harden finished the season with the largest scoring lead over the second-leading scorer since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962–63. He was chosen for his fifth All-NBA First Team.

Final Years with Houston and Trade Request

Former Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook joined Houston in 2019–20.

In October 2019, Harden scored 59 points in a close win against the Washington Wizards. This extended his streak of having a 50-point game to six straight seasons, second only to Wilt Chamberlain. On November 30, 2019, he scored 60 points in just 31 minutes, tying for the third-most 60-point games in NBA history.

He continued his amazing scoring, with 55 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers and 54 points against the Orlando Magic in back-to-back games. He became the first player in NBA history to have 50+ points and 10+ three-pointers in consecutive games. Harden finished the decade (2010-2019) as the NBA's leading scorer.

Harden became the league's scoring champion for the third season in a row in 2019–20. After the general manager and head coach left the Rockets, Harden asked to be traded in November 2020.

Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)

Harden on the Nets wearing their "city edition" jersey

In January 2021, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He wanted to join former teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to form a "superteam." In his first game with the Nets, he had 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists, becoming the first player in Nets history to get a triple-double in their debut. He also set a record for most assists in a Nets debut.

Harden continued to perform well, logging many triple-doubles and earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Player of the Month awards. He became the first player in league history to earn Player of the Month honors in his first two full months with a new team. He also passed Larry Bird on the league's all-time scoring list.

In the 2021 playoffs, Harden posted a triple-double in Game 5 of the first round. However, he re-injured his hamstring in the next series against the Milwaukee Bucks, which affected his play. He was named an Eastern Conference reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, his tenth straight All-Star selection.

Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)

On February 10, 2022, Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In his first game with the Sixers, he had 27 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds. In his second game, he recorded his 68th career triple-double. He became the first player in NBA history to have 25+ points and 10+ assists in his first two games with a new team. On March 10, he passed Reggie Miller for third place in total NBA career three-pointers made.

In the 2023 playoffs, Harden tied his playoff career high with 45 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics. He hit a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds. In Game 4, he scored 42 points and hit another game-winning three-pointer in overtime. He joined a small group of guards with at least 10 40-point playoff games. The 76ers eventually lost the series.

After the 2022–23 season, Harden asked for a trade from the 76ers.

Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present)

On November 1, 2023, James Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. This trade reunited him with former teammate Russell Westbrook. Harden made his Clippers debut on November 6. On December 14, he became the 24th player in NBA history to score 25,000 career points.

On January 26, 2024, Harden recorded his 75th career triple-double, tying Wilt Chamberlain for seventh in NBA history. On March 17, he passed Vince Carter for 20th place on the league's all-time scoring list. On April 4, Harden became the fourth player in NBA history to achieve at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 career assists, and 6,000 career rebounds. The others are LeBron James, Oscar Robertson, and Russell Westbrook.

On November 17, 2024, Harden broke Ray Allen's record to become second all-time in career three-pointers made, only behind Stephen Curry. On November 27, Harden scored 43 points, marking his 100th career 40-point game. He joined Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant as the only players in NBA history to reach this milestone. On December 1, he scored his 3,000th career three-pointer, joining Stephen Curry as the only players to reach this mark.

Player Skills and Style

Harden dunking during a 2012 Team USA exhibition game against the Dominican Republic national team

James Harden is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He mainly plays as a shooting guard, but he can also play point guard. He is the highest-scoring left-handed player in NBA history.

Harden is known as one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA. He has many offensive moves, like his Euro step and his step-back jumper. He is also the all-time NBA leader in three-pointers made without an assist. He is very good at drawing fouls to get to the free throw line, where he shoots very well (around 85.7%). He led the NBA in free throw attempts and makes for many seasons.

Besides scoring, Harden is also known for his playmaking and passing. He can set up his teammates for easy baskets. When he played point guard for the Rockets, he averaged over 10 assists per game. He is the all-time franchise leader in assists for the Rockets.

Sometimes, people have criticized his defense. However, he has worked to improve it. Another part of his game that is sometimes mentioned are his turnovers. Harden set the NBA record for turnovers in a season twice.

National Team Career

Harden with Team USA at the 2014 World Basketball Festival

James Harden has played for the U.S. national team. He won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. He also won a gold medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014 in Spain. He was considered for the 2016 Olympics team but decided not to play.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2009–10	Oklahoma City	76	0	22.9	.403	.375	.808	3.2	1.8	1.1	.3	9.9
2010–11	Oklahoma City	82	5	26.7	.436	.349	.843	3.1	2.1	1.1	.3	12.2
2011–12	Oklahoma City	62	2	31.4	.491	.390	.846	4.1	3.7	1.0	.2	16.8
2012–13	Houston	78	78	38.3	.438	.368	.851	4.9	5.8	1.8	.5	25.9
2013–14	Houston	73	73	38.0	.456	.366	.866	4.7	6.1	1.6	.4	25.4
2014–15	Houston	81	81	36.8	.440	.375	.868	5.7	7.0	1.9	.7	27.4
2015–16	Houston	82*	82*	38.1*	.439	.359	.860	6.1	7.5	1.7	.6	29.0
2016–17	Houston	81	81	36.4	.440	.347	.847	8.1	11.2*	1.5	.5	29.1
2017–18	Houston	72	72	35.4	.449	.367	.858	5.4	8.8	1.8	.7	30.4*
2018–19	Houston	78	78	36.8	.442	.368	.879	6.6	7.5	2.0	.7	36.1*
2019–20	Houston	68	68	36.5	.444	.355	.865	6.6	7.5	1.8	.9	34.3*
2020–21	Houston	8	8	36.3	.444	.347	.883	5.1	10.4	.9	.8	24.8
2020–21	Brooklyn	36	35	36.6	.471	.366	.856	8.5	10.9	1.3	.8	24.6
2021–22	Brooklyn	44	44	37.0	.414	.332	.869	8.0	10.2	1.3	.7	22.5
2021–22	Philadelphia	21	21	37.7	.402	.326	.892	7.1	10.5	1.2	.2	21.0
2022–23	Philadelphia	58	58	36.8	.441	.385	.867	6.1	10.7*	1.2	.5	21.0
2023–24	L.A. Clippers	72	72	34.3	.428	.381	.878	5.1	8.5	1.1	.8	16.6
Career		1,072	858	34.7	.441	.364	.861	5.6	7.1	1.5	.6	24.1
All-Star		9	6	25.6	.447	.411	.500	4.7	5.8	.8	.3	15.9

NBA Playoff Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010	Oklahoma City	6	0	20.0	.387	.375	.842	2.5	1.8	1.0	.2	7.7
2011	Oklahoma City	17	0	31.6	.475	.303	.825	5.4	3.6	1.2	.8	13.0
2012	Oklahoma City	20	0	31.5	.435	.410	.857	5.1	3.4	1.6	.1	16.3
2013	Houston	6	6	40.5	.391	.341	.803	6.7	4.5	2.0	1.0	26.3
2014	Houston	6	6	43.9	.376	.296	.900	4.7	5.8	2.0	.2	26.8
2015	Houston	17	17	37.4	.439	.383	.916	5.7	7.5	1.6	.4	27.2
2016	Houston	5	5	38.6	.410	.310	.844	5.2	7.6	2.4	.2	26.6
2017	Houston	11	11	37.0	.413	.278	.878	5.5	8.5	1.9	.5	28.5
2018	Houston	17	17	36.5	.410	.299	.887	5.2	6.8	2.2	.6	28.6
2019	Houston	11	11	38.6	.413	.350	.837	6.9	6.6	2.2	.9	31.6
2020	Houston	12	12	37.3	.478	.333	.845	5.6	7.7	1.5	.8	29.6
2021	Brooklyn	9	9	35.7	.472	.364	.903	6.3	8.6	1.7	.7	20.2
2022	Philadelphia	12	12	39.9	.405	.368	.893	5.7	8.6	.8	.7	18.6
2023	Philadelphia	11	11	38.8	.393	.378	.873	6.2	8.3	1.8	.4	20.3
2024	L.A. Clippers	6	6	40.3	.449	.383	.906	4.5	8.0	1.0	1.0	21.2
Career		166	123	36.1	.425	.340	.870	5.5	6.4	1.6	.5	22.7

College Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2007–08	Arizona State	34	33	34.1	.527	.407	.754	5.3	3.2	2.1	.6	17.8
2008–09	Arizona State	35	35	35.8	.489	.356	.756	5.6	4.2	1.7	.3	20.1
Career		69	68	35.0	.506	.376	.755	5.4	3.7	1.9	.4	19.0

Personal Life and Interests

James Harden was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the youngest of three children. Harden is a Christian and often talks about his faith.

He started growing his famous beard in 2009 because he was too lazy to shave. His beard has become very well-known. It has been featured in songs and on T-shirts. He even had a special candy with Trolli's that showed his face and beard.

In 2015, the sports company Adidas signed Harden to a huge endorsement deal. In 2019, Harden became a part owner of Houston's professional soccer teams. These teams are the Houston Dynamo (men's team) and the Houston Dash (women's team). He said he wanted to invest in Houston because it had become his home.

Politics and Global Events

In October 2019, the Houston Rockets' general manager, Daryl Morey, posted a tweet that supported the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests. This caused some issues with the Chinese Basketball Association, which then stopped its relationship with the Rockets. James Harden later said, "We apologize. We love China." He was trying to help smooth things over.

Images for kids

Harden with the Thunder in 2010
Harden (left) and Kevin Durant during the 2013 NBA playoffs
Harden with the ball in a game against the Orlando Magic in 2017

James Harden facts for kids

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