James Harden Fantasy News and Statistics

After always being the third wheel or the second-best, James Harden finally received top billing in the summer of 2017. Harden was the third pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the third wheel on the Oklahoma City Thunder, and a two-time runner-up for the MVP award. However, he has now ascended to the top of the NBA’s money train, as he signed the richest contract in NBA history and one that will keep him with the Houston Rockets until the 2023 season.

Harden is, perhaps, the best player ever to come from Artesia High School in the Los Angeles area. That’s saying a great deal considering that the school also produced the O’Bannon brothers of UCLA fame. Despite being one of the best players in Southern California and a two-time state champion, Harden did not follow the O’Bannons to Pauley Pavilion. Instead, he chose the Arizona State Sun Devils as his school of higher learning. It was there where Harden burst onto the radar of NBA scouts, which led to him being the third overall selection in the 2009 draft.

Harden’s first three NBA seasons were spent as a sixth man, and he excelled in that role. In 2011-12 he won the Sixth Man of the Year award as the Thunder made their only NBA Finals appearance since relocating to Oklahoma City. However, the franchise then began its penny-pinching ways by lowballing Harden a contract offer which he ultimately rejected. That led to the team trading him to the Houston Rockets, where he has been the face—and The Beard—of the franchise since 2012.

During his time in Clutch City, Harden has gone from All-Star to superstar, as no NBA player has scored more points than he has over the last five seasons. His athleticism and durability belies his less-than-ideal physique, as he’s played over 400 more minutes than any player since 2013. Even though he is in the middle of his prime, he is still getting better. Harden’s points, rebounds and assists averages have all increased in each of the past three seasons.

Harden peaked in the 2016-17 season, as new head coach Mike D’Antoni shifted him to point guard, and he responded by leading the NBA in assists while also finishing second in points. The singular highlight of his season may have come on New Year’s Eve, as the bearded one poured in 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds to become the first player in NBA history to post a 50-15-15 stat line. After being MVP runner-up in 2015 to Steph Curry, Harden again came in second place to a point guard, as Russell Westbrook narrowly beat him out for the 2017 award. Harden joins Jerry West and George Gervin as the only players in NBA history to be MVP runner-up multiple times without winning the award.

While the Rockets are still Harden’s team, he will now play with someone who is just as accomplished as he is after the team traded for Chris Paul. If he sticks around a couple of years, then Harden’s 2016-17 season may seem like an outlier due to Paul’s ball-dominant ways. Still, Harden enters this season on the shortlist for the MVP award for his ability to affect the game in a number of ways.