History of James Harden in Timeline
James Harden is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers. Widely considered one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Known as "The Beard" for his distinctive facial hair, Harden has also achieved success on the international stage, winning gold medals with the United States national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
1959: Chamberlain's Record
In 1959, Wilt Chamberlain scored 79 points in his first two career games with the Philadelphia Warriors.
December 1967: Oscar Robertson's Stats
In December 1967, Oscar Robertson had at least 450 points, 150 assists and 100 rebounds in a single month.
March 1968: Wilt Chamberlain's Stats
In March 1968, Wilt Chamberlain had 53 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists for Philadelphia.
1977: Artis Gilmore's Turnover Record
In 1977–78, Artis Gilmore had 366 turnovers, the previous record.
1981: Malone's consecutive 43-plus point games
During the 1981–82 season, Malone had two streaks of three games doing score 43-plus points.
1981: Moses Malone's Record
In 1981-82, Moses Malone had 630 free throws made in a season.
August 26, 1989: James Harden's Birth
On August 26, 1989, James Edward Harden Jr. was born. He is now known as a professional basketball player in the NBA.
1990: Tim Hardaway's Stats
In 1990, Tim Hardaway had 32 and 18 for the Golden State Warriors.
February 1991: Sleepy Floyd's Record
In February 1991, Sleepy Floyd recorded 22-27 FT tying the Rockets single-game record for free throws made.
1992: Hakeem Olajuwon's Player of the Week Honors
In 1992-93, Hakeem Olajuwon earned Player of the Week honors three times.
1994: Rockets Win Division Title
In April 2015, James Harden helped the Houston Rockets win their first division title since 1994.
1997: Playoff record for most missed consecutive shots
During Game 3 against the Jazz in the 2019 playoffs, James Harden started the game 0-of-15, breaking the NBA playoff record for most missed consecutive shots without a make in a game since Michael Jordan went 0-of-11 in an 87–80 loss against the Miami Heat in the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals.
May 1999: Michael Dickerson's Record
In May 1999, Houston guard Michael Dickerson made eight straight 3-point field goals.
2000: Jerry Stackhouse's Stats
In 2000-01, Jerry Stackhouse had at least 600 free throws made and hit 150 or more 3-pointers.
2004: Tracy McGrady's Player of the Week Honors
In 2004-05, Tracy McGrady earned Player of the Week honors four times.
2005: Gilbert Arenas' Stats
In 2005-06, Gilbert Arenas had at least 600 free throws made and hit 150 or more 3-pointers.
2006: Gilbert Arenas' Stats
In 2006-07, Gilbert Arenas had at least 600 free throws made and hit 150 or more 3-pointers.
March 2007: Consecutive 50-point games since Kobe Bryant
In December 2017, James Harden became the first NBA player to score 50 or more in consecutive games since Kobe Bryant did so in March 2007.
2007: Kobe Bryant's Stats
In 2007-08, Kobe Bryant had at least 600 free throws made and hit 150 or more 3-pointers.
November 30, 2008: Career-High 40 Points Against UTEP
On November 30, 2008, James Harden scored a career-high 40 points in an 88-58 victory over UTEP.
2008: Arizona State's Season and NIT Appearance
In 2008, James Harden's freshman year, Arizona State finished tied for fifth in the Pac-10 with a 21-13 record and were selected to the 2008 NIT field after being considered a bubble team for the NCAA tournament. They lost to Florida in the NIT.
2009: End of Sophomore Year and NBA Draft Declaration
In 2009, James Harden finished his sophomore year with averages of 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He was named the Pacific-10 Conference's Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. After the season concluded, Harden declared for the 2009 NBA draft.
2009: Drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder
In 2009, James Harden was drafted third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking a significant milestone in his career.
2009: Beard Origin
James Harden started growing his trademark beard in 2009 after being too lazy to shave.
January 1, 2010: Beginning of the Decade
Going back to January 1, 2010, James Harden finished the decade as the NBA's leading scorer with 19,578 points, despite beginning his career as a sixth man with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
March 2010: Rodrigue Beaubois scores 40 points
In March 2010, Dallas guard Rodrigue Beaubois scored 40 points.
2010: Regular Season
During the 2010–11 season, James Harden played regularly.
March 6, 2011: Season-High 26 Points Against Phoenix
On March 6, 2011, James Harden scored a season-high 26 points against the Phoenix Suns.
2011: NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
During the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, James Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists and received the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
April 18, 2012: Season-High 40 Points Against Phoenix
On April 18, 2012, James Harden scored a season-high 40 points against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first NBA player in a reserve role to score 40 points since Rodrigue Beaubois in March 2010.
October 31, 2012: Contract Extension with the Rockets
On October 31, 2012, James Harden signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets.
2012: Contract Extension Negotiation
During the 2012 free agency period, Oklahoma City attempted to sign James Harden to a four-year contract extension worth between $52 and $55 million.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, James Harden was a member of the United States national team that won a gold medal at the Olympics.
2012: All-NBA Third Team Selection
In 2012-13, James Harden was named to the All-NBA Third Team, marking his first career All-NBA Team selection.
2012: Trade to Houston Rockets
Since 2012, after his trade to the Houston Rockets, James Harden has scored the most points in the NBA and became the all-time NBA leader in unassisted three-point makes.
February 2, 2013: First Career Triple-Double
On February 2, 2013, James Harden recorded the first triple-double of his career against the Charlotte Bobcats, with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
February 20, 2013: Career-High 46 Points Against Oklahoma City Thunder
On February 20, 2013, James Harden scored a career-high 46 points in a 122-119 win over his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
December 26, 2013: Most Points on Limited Field Goals
On December 26, 2013, James Harden became the first player in NBA history to register at least 27 points on two or fewer field goals made against the Memphis Grizzlies.
2013: Steven Adams First Round Pick
In 2013, the first round pick became Steven Adams.
February 5, 2014: 3,000 Points in First 120 Games
On February 5, 2014, against the Phoenix Suns, James Harden became just the third player to score at least 3,000 points in his first 120 games played with the Rockets.
February 25, 2014: Season-High 43 Points Against Sacramento Kings
On February 25, 2014, James Harden scored a season-high 43 points in a 129–103 win over the Sacramento Kings.
2014: Free Throw Dominance
From 2014, James Harden led the NBA in free throw attempts and makes every year until 2019, showcasing his ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line efficiently.
2014: FIBA World Cup Gold Medal
In 2014, James Harden was a member of the team that won the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
2014: Mitch McGary First Round Pick
In 2014, the first round pick became Mitch McGary.
2014: Defensive Criticism and Improvement
In early 2014, James Harden faced intensified criticism for his defense. However, during the 2014 offseason, he committed to improving his defense, which was evident in August as a member of the United States men's national basketball team.
2014: Inaugural National Basketball Players Association's MVP
James Harden was voted the inaugural National Basketball Players Association's MVP for the 2014–15 season.
April 2015: Two 50-Point Games
In April 2015, James Harden became the first player in franchise history to have two 50-point games in a season.
August 3, 2015: Adidas Endorsement Deal
On August 3, 2015, James Harden received an endorsement deal from Adidas worth $200 million over 13 years.
November 2015: Kevin McHale Fired
In November 2015, Rockets head coach Kevin McHale was fired after the Rockets began the season with a 4–7 record.
2015: Improved Defense
In 2015, James Harden's improved defense carried over to the following season and has been cited as a major reason for the Rockets' regular season success.
July 9, 2016: Contract Extension with Rockets
On July 9, 2016, James Harden signed a four-year, $118.1 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets.
September 2016: Point Guard Role
In September 2016, new Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni announced that James Harden would take on the point guard role to begin the 2016–17 season.
2016: Point Guard Role
During the early portion of the 2016-17 season, Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni played James Harden at point guard, which resulted in him averaging over 10 assists per game for the first time in his career. This emphasized his playmaking ability.
2016: Withdrawal from 2016 Olympics
James Harden was a candidate for the 2016 Olympics, but he withdrew from the team.
December 31, 2016: Triple-double with 53 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds
On December 31, 2016, James Harden achieved a triple-double with 53 points, 17 assists, and 16 rebounds in a 129–122 victory over the New York Knicks, setting an NBA record as the first player to reach a 50–15–15 stat line. He equaled Wilt Chamberlain's record for the most points in a triple-double in NBA history and set career highs for points and three-pointers.
July 8, 2017: Signed four-year contract extension with the Rockets
On July 8, 2017, James Harden signed a four-year contract extension with the Rockets for approximately $160 million. This gave him a total six-year deal with $228 million guaranteed, which was the richest contract in NBA history at the time.
2017: NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017–18 season
In June 2018, James Harden was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017–18 season, becoming the third player in franchise history to receive the award.
January 30, 2018: First 60-point triple-double in NBA history
On January 30, 2018, James Harden became the first player in NBA history to score 60 points as part of a triple-double, finishing with 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 114–107 win over the Orlando Magic. He also broke Houston's single-game scoring record, previously held by Calvin Murphy.
2018: 2018-2020 Seasons
During the 2018–2020 seasons, James Harden became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain with at least 20 games of 40+ points over a three-year period.
2018: NBA Most Valuable Player
In 2018, James Harden was named the NBA Most Valuable Player while leading the Houston Rockets to the Western Conference Finals.
2018: Streak with at least 30 points snapped.
On February 25, 2019, James Harden's return game after missing the Rockets' next game with an illness and a strained neck saw him score 28 points against the Atlanta Hawks, snapping his 32-game streak with at least 30.
July 18, 2019: Part Owner of Houston Soccer Teams
On July 18, 2019, James Harden became a part owner in Houston's professional soccer teams; the Houston Dynamo of MLS and the Houston Dash of NWSL.
October 4, 2019: Controversy over Hong Kong Tweet
On October 4, 2019, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's tweet supporting the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests resulted in the Chinese Basketball Association's suspension of its relationship with the Houston Rockets, leading to an apology from Harden to China.
October 30, 2019: Scored 59 points against the Washington Wizards
On October 30, 2019, James Harden scored 59 points on 18–32 shooting from the field, along with nine assists in a 159–158 win against the Washington Wizards. With this game, Harden extended a streak of having a 50-point game in 6 straight seasons.
November 11, 2019: Named Western Conference's Player of the Week
On November 11, 2019, James Harden was named the Western Conference's Player of the Week after the Rockets went 3–0, Harden recording a double-double in each game and averaging 40.7 points, scoring 22 3-pointers on 43.1% shooting; 9.3 assists; 8.0 rebounds; 2.33 steals; and 1.33 blocks.
November 30, 2019: Fourth career 60-point game
On November 30, 2019, James Harden achieved his fourth career 60-point game in a 158–111 win against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring a season-high 60 points along with 8 assists in 31 minutes. Harden joined Klay Thompson and Kobe Bryant as the only players to hit 60 points in just three quarters.
December 11, 2019: Fourth 50-point game of the season
On December 11, 2019, James Harden achieved his fourth 50-point game of the season with 55 points in a 116–110 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also became the fourth player in NBA history with multiple games of 10 or more 3-pointers.
December 13, 2019: Second 50-point game in a row
On December 13, 2019, James Harden had his second 50-point game in a row scoring 54 points in a 130–107 win against the Orlando Magic. In this game, Harden became the second player in NBA history to score 10+ 3PM in consecutive games, joining Stephen Curry.
December 21, 2019: Passed Elgin Baylor for most 40-point games in NBA history
On December 21, 2019, James Harden surpassed Elgin Baylor for the most 40-point games in NBA history, finishing with 40 points in a 139–125 win against the Phoenix Suns.
2019: End of Free Throw Dominance
In 2019, James Harden's streak of leading the NBA in free throw attempts and makes came to an end, having led the league every year since the 2014–15 season.
July 17, 2020: Pro-Police Mask Controversy
On July 17, 2020, James Harden was criticized for wearing a pro-police mask, which was said to be related to white supremacy and the Blue Lives Matter movement. Atlanta rapper Young Thug defended Harden, stating that "he don't have internet".
2020: Trade Request
At the beginning of the 2020-21 season, James Harden requested a trade from the Houston Rockets.
2020: Scoring champion for the third season in a row
During the 2018-2020 NBA seasons, James Harden became the league's scoring champion for the third season in a row and the league leader in total steals.
January 14, 2021: Traded to the Brooklyn Nets
On January 14, 2021, James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal. The trade involved the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers, and sent Rodions Kurucs, Dante Exum, Victor Oladipo, four first-round draft picks, and four first-round pick swaps to the Houston Rockets.
October 22, 2021: Moved past Kyle Korver for fourth on the all-time three-pointers made list
On October 22, 2021, James Harden scored 20 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in a 114–109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, moving past Kyle Korver for fourth on the all-time three-pointers made list.
2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, James Harden was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing him as one of the league's top 75 players.
January 15, 2022: 27 points and tied a season-high 15 assists against the New Orleans Pelicans
On January 15, 2022, James Harden scored 27 points, 8 rebounds and tied a season-high 15 assists in a 120–105 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
February 10, 2022: Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
On February 10, 2022, James Harden and Paul Millsap were traded by the Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round selections.
July 27, 2022: Re-signed with the 76ers
On July 27, 2022, James Harden re-signed with the 76ers on a two-year, $68.6 million deal which included a player option for the 2023–24 season.
2022: Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
At the 2022 trade deadline, James Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
November 1, 2023: Acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers
On November 1, 2023, James Harden, P. J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev were acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers from the 76ers in exchange for Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr. and Robert Covington. As part of the trade, the Clippers dealt a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap, and cash considerations to the 76ers, while sending a pick swap and cash considerations to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2023: Led League in Assists
In 2023, James Harden led the league in assists for the second time in his career.
January 26, 2024: Recorded 75th career triple-double
On January 26, 2024, James Harden recorded his 75th career triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a 127–107 win over the Toronto Raptors.
July 10, 2024: Re-signed with the Clippers
On July 10, 2024, James Harden re-signed with the Clippers on a two-year, $70 million contract.
November 2, 2024: Recorded 78th Career Triple-Double
On November 2, 2024, James Harden recorded his 78th career triple-double, tying Wilt Chamberlain for seventh in NBA history, with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a 125–119 loss against the Phoenix Suns. He also became the 20th player in NBA history to reach 26,000 points in his career.
January 30, 2025: Named as reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game
On January 30, 2025, James Harden was named as reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, his eleventh selection.
2025: Named to 11th All-Star Game
In 2025, James Harden was named to his 11th All-Star Game.
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