James Harden is in his 15th season in the NBA. He entered the NBA in 2009 after a productive college career at Arizona State. The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Harden with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Harden has played for the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He has career averages of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Harden has made 10 All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams and has won three scoring titles, two assists titles, one Sixth Man of the Year Award, and one MVP Award.
Harden requested a trade from the Sixers in June and finally got dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers, who have never reached the NBA Finals, have a Big 4 of Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook.
With the Harden trade drama finally over, let’s take a look at how Harden has performed in the NBA.
2009-10 NBA Season
Stats: 9.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Rookie Second Team
James Harden appeared in 76 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder during his rookie season. The lefty averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists. 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 40.3% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc 80.8% from the free-throw line off the bench.
Harden scored at least 20 points four times as a rookie.
The Thunder won 50 games in 2009-10 and faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2010 playoffs. OKC lost to Los Angeles in six games. Harden averaged 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in the series.
2010-11 NBA Season
Stats: 12.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Awards and achievements: None
James Harden showed off his durability during the 2010-11 season by playing in all 82 games. He averaged 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 43.6% from the floor, 34.9% from beyond the arc, and 84.3% from the free-throw line.
Harden showed off his scoring skills more in Year 2. He scored at least 20 points 10 times.
The Oklahoma City Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals in 2011, where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Harden averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the 2011 playoffs. He led the entire postseason in two-point field goal percentage.
2011-12 NBA Season
Stats: 16.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Awards and achievements: Sixth Man of the Year
James Harden established himself as a star during the 2011-12 lockout season. In 62 games, Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 49.1% from the field, 39.0% from 3, and 84.6% from the foul line.
Harden had 15 games over 20 points, three games over 30 points, and one 40-point game. He was named the Sixth Man of the Year and helped the Oklahoma City Thunder win 47 games.
OKC won the Western Conference in 2012 and reached the NBA Finals, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games. Harden averaged 16.3 points and 3.4 assists in the 2012 playoffs.
2012-13 NBA Season
Stats: 25.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Third Team
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets in October 2012. It was a blockbuster trade that no one saw coming. While Harden was close with Thunder teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, he was excited to be a number one option.
Harden became a superstar in 2012-13. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 78 games while shooting 43.8% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc, and 85.1% from the free-throw line. Harden recorded nine double-doubles and one triple-double. The Beard scored at least 30 points 23 times and recorded two 40-point games.
Harden led the Rockets to 45 wins. Houston faced OKC in the first round of the 2013 playoffs and lost the series in six games. Harden averaged 26.3 points in the series.
2013-14 NBA Season
Stats: 25.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team
James Harden appeared in 73 games in 2013-14. He averaged 25.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc, and 86.6% from the free-throw line. Harden recorded 14 double-doubles and one triple-double. He had 24 30-point games and two 40-point games.
Harden guided the Houston Rockets to 54 wins. The Rockets faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2014 playoffs and lost the series in six games. Damian Lillard hit the game-winning 3-pointer in Game 6 in Portland at the buzzer.
Harden averaged 26.8 points in the Blazers series. He led the postseason in minutes per game (43.8).
2014-15 NBA Season
Stats: 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team
James Harden played in 81 games for the Houston Rockets in 2014-15. He averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists while shooting 44.0% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc, and 86.8% from the free-throw line.
Harden led the Rockets all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2015. Houston lost to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in five games.
Harden averaged 27.2 points in the 2015 playoffs.
2015-16 NBA Season
Stats: 29.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team
James Harden appeared in all 82 games for the Houston Rockets in 2015-16. He averaged 29.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field, 35.9% from beyond the arc, and 86.0% from the free-throw line.
Harden led the league in minutes per game. He guided the Rockets to 41 wins even though the team had two coaches. Kevin McHale was fired after a 4-7 start and was replaced by JB Bickerstaff.
The Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2016 playoffs. Harden averaged 26.6 points in the five-game series.
2016-17 NBA Season
Stats: 29.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Assists Title
James Harden started 81 games for the Houston Rockets in 2016-17. He averaged 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 11.2 assists while shooting 44.0% from the field, 34.7% from beyond the arc, and 84.7% from the free-throw line.
Harden led the NBA in assists per game. The Houston Rockets won 55 games and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2017 playoffs.
However, the Rockets lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round in six games. Harden finished the 2017 playoffs with averages of 28.5 points.
2017-18 NBA Season
Stats: 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Scoring Title, MVP
James Harden was incredible during the 2017-18 season. He averaged 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists while shooting 44.9% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the arc, and 85.8% from the free-throw line.
Harden led the NBA in scoring and won his first and only MVP Award. The Houston Rockets won 65 games and reached the Western Conference Finals.
Just like in 2015, Harden and the Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. Harden averaged 28.6 points in the 2017 playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, and Rockets.
2018-19 NBA Season
Stats: 36.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 7.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Scoring Title
James Harden followed up his MVP season with his best scoring campaign. He averaged a career-high 36.1 points and scored 61 points twice. Harden also averaged 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists while shooting 44.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 87.9% from the free-throw line.
The Beard won his second straight scoring title and led the Houston Rockets to 53 games. However, those pesky Golden State Warriors beat Harden and Co. again in the playoffs, this time in the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals.
Harden averaged 31.6 points in the 2019 playoffs.
2019-20 NBA Season
Stats: 34.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Scoring Title
James Harden averaged 34.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 2019-20. He won his third consecutive scoring title while shooting 44.4% overall, 35.5% from 3, and 86.5% from the free-throw line.
The Houston Rockets were invited to the Walt Disney World bubble since they were a playoff team before the season was shut down due to COVID-19. The Rockets were the fourth seed in the West and faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2020 playoffs. Houston won that series in seven games.
The Rockets faced LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs and lost the series in five games. Harden averaged 29.6 points in the 2020 postseason.
2020-21 NBA Season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUsDCPUUvEs
Stats: 24.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 10.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star
The 2020-21 season was a wild campaign for James Harden. Both he and Russell Westbrook requested trades from the Houston Rockets in the offseason. The Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards but kept Harden around for eight games before sending him to the Brooklyn Nets.
Harden averaged 24.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 10.8 assists in 44 games with the Rockets and Nets while shooting 46.6% from the field, 36.2% from beyond the arc, and 86.1% from the free-throw line.
The Nets, led by Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving, beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. However, Brooklyn lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round in seven games. Harden suffered a hamstring injury and didn’t play in Games 2-4 of the Bucks series.
2021-22 NBA Season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=benF85ayCQA
Stats: 22.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 10.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Awards and achievements: All-Star
James Harden played in 44 games for the Brooklyn Nets in 2021-22 before getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Beard requested a trade from the Nets.
Harden averaged 22.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 10.3 assists with the Nets and Sixers while shooting 41.0% overall, 33.0% from 3, and 87.7% from the foul line in 65 games.
The Sixers beat the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2022 playoffs but lost to the Miami Heat in the second round. Harden averaged 18.6 points and 8.6 assists versus the Raptors and Heat.
2022-23 NBA Season
Stats: 21.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Awards and achievements: Assists title
In his first full season with the Philadelphia 76ers, James Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
The Sixers won 54 games and Joel Embiid won his first MVP Award. Philadelphia swept Harden’s old team, the Brooklyn Nets, in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in seven games.
Harden averaged 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds against the Nets and Heat.
What’s Next For James Harden?
James Harden requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers in June and finally got his wish on October 31. The Sixers traded Harden and PJ Tucker to the Clippers for Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks, and a pick swap.
Harden is “ecstatic” to be going to the Clippers, sources close to him told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. The Clippers are expected to start Harden, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac. Harden and Westbrook were teammates on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. The two MVPs are very close friends.
Harden will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. It will be interesting to see how he plays with the Clippers.
