James Harden made a strong first impression in his debut with the Brooklyn Nets.
In fact, he made history, becoming the first player to post a 30-point triple-double in a team debut.
Harden finished with 32 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in Brookyln’s 122-115 victory over the Orlando Magic. The 14 assists were a franchise record for a player making his Nets debut.
Amazingly, Harden didn’t score until making a pair of free throws with 6.8 seconds left in the first quarter and didn’t make his first basket until a layup with 10:07 remaining in the half. But his playmaking was on track from the start, pushing up the floor to find teammates rather than often dribbling down the shot clock in Houston.
Harden is the seventh player in NBA history to record a triple-double in his first game with a team.
Triple-double in team debut
Oct. 19, 1960 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals
- 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists (NBA debut)
Oct. 18, 1974 — Nate Thurmond, Chicago Bulls
- 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks (quadruple-double)
Feb. 6, 1976 — John Shumate, Buffalo Braves
- 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
Oct. 29, 1983 — Lewis Lloyd, Houston Rockets
- 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists
Oct. 17, 2018 — Elfrid Payton, New Orleans Pelicans
- 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
Dec. 23, 2020 — Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards
- 21 points, 11 rebounds, 15 assists
Jan. 16, 2021 — 2021 — James Harden, Brooklyn Nets
- 32 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds
Harden was cleared to play earlier in the afternoon after all the players in the blockbuster trade that brought him from Houston had completed their physicals.
He had no practice time with the Nets and clearly didn’t need it.
