James Harden Reflects On 15-Year Rivalry With Stephen Curry

James Harden opened up on his rivalry with Stephen Curry stretching back to them being drafted together in 2009 to today.

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Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

James Harden and Stephen Curry‘s careers have been interlinked since they both were selected in the 2009 NBA Draft. After countless matchups and rivalries between the pair, they faced off tonight as Harden’s Los Angeles Clippers defeated Curry’s Golden State Warriors 112-104. 

After the game, Harden reflected on their rivalry with the media, revealing how he looks back on the last 15 years of the two competing against each other.

“It happened fast. I think just the prime of that Rockets situation going up against that dynasty was just like real. Something I don’t really look back on, I haven’t sat back and thought about it because I am still trying to accomplish things, but I had to really go up against a real dynasty. It’s special.” 

“I’m overly excited and proud of what he’s accomplished in his career. It’s one of those things and stories we can talk about when we get older and retire.”

Since the 2009 NBA Draft, Harden has averaged 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists over his career. He’s won one MVP, three scoring titles, two assist titles, 10 All-Star appearances, and made seven All-NBA Teams. 

He’s never won an NBA title but did make it to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the OKC Thunder, the team that drafted him. Harden has represented the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and is now on the Clippers.

Stephen Curry has averaged 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists over his career and won two MVP awards, with one of them being the only unanimous MVP ever handed out in NBA history

He’s a four-time champion, one-time Finals MVP, two-time scoring champion, 10 All-Star appearances, and 10 All-NBA teams. He’s spent his entire career with the Golden State Warriors, with many expecting him to retire as a one-club man.

Curry and Harden have had many battles over their career. In the regular season, Harden leads their matchup with 22 wins to Steph’s 16 wins. Harden averaged 22.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in those battles while Curry put up 24.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.

The Playoffs are a different story, with Curry dominating their matchup with four Playoff series from 2015 to 2019. Curry’s Warriors have always eliminated Harden from the Playoffs, with their head-to-head record being 14-6 in Curry’s favor. 

Curry averaged 25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in those battles while Harden carried a much bigger load and averaged 29.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. 

It’s fair to say that Curry will be regarded as a better player than Harden when they both retire due to the incredible achievements Curry has to his name both as an individual and as the leader of a team. Harden might be the more dynamic individual player with his larger size and ability to score as well as make plays, but he’s never been able to convert his skills into championship success.

Tonight’s matchup between the pair ended in Harden’s favor, as his Clippers won while he put up 23 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists. Curry had 18 points, four rebounds, and six assists but left the game injured and missed the entire fourth quarter bar 13 seconds of action.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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