James Edward Harden Jr., born on August 26, 1989, is an American professional basketball player currently with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers and shooting guards in NBA history, Harden’s career is marked by numerous accolades, statistical achievements, and a unique playing style.
Early Life and High School Career
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Family: Youngest of three children; his birth was significant as his mother had experienced multiple miscarriages before him
- High School: Artesia High School (Lakewood, California)
- Developed into a standout basketball player
- Led his team to back-to-back California state championships
- AAU Success:
- Played for Pump-N-Run Elite
- Helped win the 2006 Las Vegas Adidas Super 64 championship
- Scored 34 points in a notable AAU game against future NBA talent
Player Profile
- Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
- Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
- Playing Style:
- Elite scorer with a diverse offensive arsenal
- Known for signature moves like the Euro step and step-back jumper
- Exceptional ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line (career 85.7% FT shooter)
- Strong playmaking skills, leading the NBA in assists multiple times
National Team Career
Harden represented the United States on the international stage, winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. He withdrew from the team in 2016.
Career Statistics
Here are some of Harden’s key career statistics:
NBA Regular Season:
| 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/BKN | 44 | 43 | 36.5 | .459 | .359 | .865 | 7.3 | 10.7 | 1.2 | .8 | 24.7 |
| 2021-22 | Brooklyn/PHI | 65 | 65 | 37.2 | .414 | .330 | .872 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 1.2 | .4 | 21.8 |
| 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 | 1072 | 858 | 34.7 | .441 | .364 | .861 | 5.6 | 7.1 | 1.5 | .6 | 24.1 |
NBA Playoffs:
| 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:
| 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
Off the court, Harden is a Christian, often expressing his faith. He has been known for his distinctive beard, which he started growing in 2009. His beard has become an iconic part of his image, even inspiring T-shirts and endorsements.
Political Involvement
Harden has been involved in political issues. In 2019, following a tweet by the Houston Rockets general manager supporting the Hong Kong protests, Harden apologized to China, stating, “We apologize. We love China”.
Enhanced FAQ
What are James Harden’s most notable achievements?
James Harden has earned numerous awards, including the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player award, three scoring titles, two assist titles, and an NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. He has also been named to the All-NBA First Team six times and has been an 11-time All-Star.
Which teams has James Harden played for?
He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
What is James Harden’s playing style?
He is known for his versatile scoring ability, including his Euro step and step-back jumper. He is also known for drawing fouls and playmaking.
Is James Harden a good defender?
He has been criticized for his defense, though he has made efforts to improve.
How many triple-doubles does James Harden have?
He has recorded numerous triple-doubles in both the regular season and playoffs, establishing himself as one of the most versatile players in the league.
Buzz Williams