James Harden’s electrifying moves and prolific scoring exploits are a staple in today’s NBA. His immense growth from being a budding talent off the bench to a franchise player to an elite playmaker on a super team is quite a unique story that only “The Beard” can author.
In his 12th year and with his third team in the league, he has continuously transformed his game.
Below are three acts that encapsulate his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Brooklyn Nets. Within the acts are scenes that attempt to embody the signature moves, the record-setting games, and the sheer greatness of Harden.
ACT I: A sixth man destined for more
It’s Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 3-0 lead against the defending champions Dallas Mavericks. Leading the young Thunder are the formidable trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Superstar Dirk Nowitzki remains the face of the Dallas franchise but the aging Mavericks are not the same team that won the title a season ago. The crowd is raucous inside the jam-packed American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
Scene 1: First quarter, 4:38 left, tie game
Harden entered the game for the first time to replace Thabo Sefalosha.
Less than a minute later, Harden got on the scoreboard. With the shot clock winding down, Durant had nowhere to go after picking up his dribble at the foul line. He whipped a pass to Harden, who effortlessly took one dribble, rose up from beyond the arc, and splashed a 3-pointer over the outstretched arm of Shawn Marion.
The mundane first quarter play is a microcosm of Harden’s role with the Thunder. He is a super sub whose purpose is to provide firepower off the bench in support of the team’s two other stars.
Scene 2: Fourth quarter, 9:29, Mavericks lead, 86-73
Harden sized up Delonte West and opted not to use the screen set by teammate Nick Collison. He crossed to the right, went behind-the-back to his left, and darted straight to the teeth of the defense. He got clipped by West but still managed to fling a circus shot. And-1 for Harden.
Harden led the comeback and went on to score 15 of his team-high 29 points in the fourth quarter in the Thunder’s 103-97 series-clinching win.
The Thunder’s youth precedes them and their 2012 playoff run is a testament to the team’s promising talent. They went on to advance to the NBA Finals before losing to eventual champions, Miami Heat. Harden and the Thunder failed to agree on a contract extension which led to a trade with the Houston Rockets.
ACT II: A meteoric rise to MVP
Upon the arrival of Harden, former Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey introduced his newest acquisition as a “foundational player.” Houston saw a franchise player but he also rose to become a generational talent that went on to shape modern basketball.
Scene 1: 2015 Western Conference Semifinals
Harden helped the Rockets overcome a 3-1 deficit against the LA Clippers. He averaged 25.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. In the decisive Game 7, he uncorks 31 points and eight assists.
Scene 2: December 31, 2016
Harden recorded the first-ever 50-15-15 game in league history on New Year’s Eve. He unleashed 53 points, 16 rebounds, and 17 assists in the Rockets’ 129-122 win over the Knicks.
Scene 3: February 28, 2018
The stepback is arguably the most potent weapon in Harden’s arsenal. His play against the LA Clippers’ Wesley Johnson is the epitome of his signature move. He dropped his defender with an iconic between-the-legs stepback, complete with a pause and staredown before making the shot.
😳 JAMES. HARDEN. 😳#Rockets pic.twitter.com/JCphxLzP18
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2018
Scene 4: January 30, 2018
Harden set another record night by producing 60 points, 10 boards, and 11 dimes in a 114-107 victory over the Orlando Magic. It was another pioneering moment, emerging as the first player to produce a 60-point triple-double.
In his 2017-18 MVP campaign, Harden produced 30.4 points, built on a 44.9 field-goal percent clip and 3.7 triples, alongside 5.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists.
Scene 5: 2018-19 season
For an encore after his MVP year, Harden went on a ballistic tear from December 2018 till February 2019. He set the league ablaze with 32 straight 30-point games, the second-longest streak in NBA history. In that stretch, he had two 50-point performances and a career-high 61 points at Madison Square Garden.
He tied his personal-best of 61 points, including 27 points in the opening salvo, in the Rockets’ 111-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs on March 22.
ACT III: The orchestrator of the Nets super team
Prior to the 2020-21 season, Harden demanded a trade from the Rockets amid the departure of general manager Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni. He played eight games for Houston before headlining a four-team trade that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Scene 1: "You’re the point guard now”
Harden is now part of the league’s newest powerhouse as he reunites with Durant and joins forces with a top guard in Irving. As the Nets navigate being a super team, Irving finds the perfect solution.
IRVING: "I just looked at him, and I said, 'You're the point guard, and I'm going to play shooting guard.' That was as simple as that."
Harden is currently the league-leader in assists with 11.2 per game, on top of his output of 26.1 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Scene 2: “I feel like I am the MVP"
Harden had his best scoring game as a Net, erupting for 44 points, 14 boards, and eight dimes in a win over the Detroit Pistons. It’s his 31st career 40-point, 10-rebound game. He was then asked if he feels he belongs in the MVP conversation.
HARDEN: "Do I feel like I belong in it? I feel like I am the MVP. I mean, it’s just that simple. I don’t want to speak individually on myself. I’m just going to leave it at that. I just try to go out there every single night and give my teammates everything that I can bring to the game."
We are witnessing Harden’s third act, the third adaptation in his ever-evolving game as the playmaker of the Nets. In essence, he is still the same stepback-ing, 3-point shooting, foul-drawing, high-scoring, stat-sheet stuffer we know him to be. Is there going to be a fourth act where he becomes an NBA champion? We’ll just have to wait and see.
