History of James Harden in Timeline
James Harden is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Known as one of the greatest scorers and shooting guards in NBA history, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He has also represented the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
1959: Wilt Chamberlain's streak
From 1959-69, Wilt Chamberlain had a 50-point game in 6 straight seasons.
1959: Chamberlain scores 79
In 1959, Wilt Chamberlain scored 79 points in his first two career games with the Philadelphia Warriors.
1962: Wilt Chamberlain Scoring Margin
In the 1962-63 season, Wilt Chamberlain had the largest scoring margin since James Harden.
December 1967: Robertson Stats
In December 1967, Oscar Robertson recorded at least 450 points, 150 assists, and 100 rebounds.
1967: Chamberlain Stats
During the 1967-68 season, Wilt Chamberlain pulled the feat with 53 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists.
March 1968: Chamberlain Stats
In March 1968, Wilt Chamberlain had 53 points, 32 rebounds, and 14 assists.
1978: Calvin Murphy's franchise record
In 1978, Calvin Murphy set the Houston Rockets' franchise record for most points in a game.
1979: Award Inception
In 1979, the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award was established.
1981: Malone's Scoring Title
During the 1981-82 season, Malone averaged 31.1 points.
1981: Last Pair of Teammates to Lead in Scoring and Assists
In the 1981–82 season, prior to Harden and Embiid, George Gervin and Johnny Moore were the last pair of teammates to lead the NBA in scoring and assists.
1988: Michael Jordan's Scoring Record
In the 1988-89 season, Michael Jordan scored 337 points.
August 26, 1989: James Harden's Birth
On August 26, 1989, James Edward Harden Jr. was born. He would later become a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers.
1989: Jordan's Record
During the 1989-90 season, Michael Jordan was the only player in NBA History to record 2,700 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds in one season with James Harden.
1990: Hardaway Stats
In 1990, Tim Hardaway had 32 points and 18 assists for the Golden State Warriors.
1990: Scoring 20 points in first 24 games
Since the 1990-91 season, James Harden became only the second player to score at least 20 points in each of the first 24 games of the season.
February 1991: Sleepy Floyd Free Throws
In February 1991, Sleepy Floyd made 22-of-27 free throws.
1992: Olajuwon Player of the Week
In the 1992-93 season, Hakeem Olajuwon was Player of the Week three times.
1994: Division Title
In 2015, James Harden helped the Rockets win their first division title since 1994.
1997: Jordan's Missed Shots
During the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan went 0-of-11 in an 87-80 loss against the Miami Heat.
2000: Stackhouse 600 Free Throws
In the 2000-01 season, Jerry Stackhouse recorded at least 600 free throws made.
2003: First Place in Eastern Conference Since 2003
In 2003, it was the last time the Nets were in first place in the Eastern Conference, prior to Harden leading the Nets to first place.
2004: McGrady Player of the Week
In the 2004-05 season, Tracy McGrady was Player of the Week four times.
2005: Arenas 600 Free Throws
In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 season, Gilbert Arenas recorded at least 600 free throws made.
2006: Arenas 600 Free Throws
In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 season, Gilbert Arenas recorded at least 600 free throws made.
March 2007: Kobe Bryant's consecutive 50-point games
In March 2007, Kobe Bryant had four straight 50-point games.
April 2007: First Net to Win the Award Since Vince Carter
In April 2007, prior to Harden, Vince Carter was the last Net to win Eastern Conference Player of the Month.
2007: Bryant 600 Free Throws
In the 2007-08 season, Kobe Bryant recorded at least 600 free throws made.
November 30, 2008: Career High Points
On November 30, 2008, James Harden scored a career-high 40 points in a game against UTEP.
2008: NIT Appearance
In 2008, James Harden's Arizona State team was selected for the NIT field after being considered a bubble team for the NCAA tournament.
2009: Declared for NBA Draft
In 2009, James Harden declared for the NBA draft after being named the Pacific-10 Conference's Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.
2009: Began Growing His Trademark Beard
In 2009, James Harden started growing his trademark beard after being too lazy to shave.
January 1, 2010: Leading scorer of the decade
Going back to January 1, 2010, James Harden finished the decade as the NBA's leading scorer with 19,578 points.
March 2010: Beaubois Scores 40 points as Reserve
In March 2010, Dallas guard Rodrigue Beaubois scored 40 points, as reference for Harden being first NBA player in a reserve role to score 40 points since then.
2010: Played in 54 Games
During the 2010–11 season, James Harden scored 10-plus points on 54 occasions.
March 6, 2011: Season High Points
On March 6, 2011, James Harden scored a season-high 26 points against the Phoenix Suns.
2011: Sixth Man of the Year
During the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, James Harden averaged 16.8 points and received the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
April 18, 2012: Season-High 40 Points
On April 18, 2012, James Harden scored a season-high 40 points against the Phoenix Suns.
October 27, 2012: Traded to Rockets
On October 27, 2012, James Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets from the Thunder.
October 31, 2012: Contract Extension with Rockets
On October 31, 2012, James Harden signed a contract extension with the Houston Rockets for five years worth $80 million.
2012: Contract Extension Negotiations
During the 2012 free agency period, Oklahoma City attempted to sign James Harden to a four-year contract extension.
2012: All-NBA Third Team Selection
During the 2012-13 season, James Harden was named to the All-NBA Third Team, earning his first All-NBA Team selection.
2012: Coming off the bench
In 2012, Harden was coming off the bench for the first time since 2012, where he posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists in a 128–116 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
2012: Won a Gold Medal at the Olympics
In 2012, James Harden was a member of the United States national team that won a gold medal at the Olympics.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, James Harden won a gold medal as a member of the United States national team at the Summer Olympics.
2012: Trade to the Houston Rockets
Since his trade to the Houston Rockets in the 2012-13 NBA season, Harden has scored the most points in the NBA.
2012: Versatile and Dangerous Scorer
Since the 2012-13 season, James Harden has had season averages of over 25 points per game, and is considered one of the most versatile and dangerous scorers in the NBA.
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
On February 20, 2013, James Harden scored a career-high 46 points in a win over his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
December 26, 2013: Record Free Throws
On December 26, 2013, James Harden registered at least 27 points on two or fewer field goals made, finishing with 22-of-25 from the free throw line and tying the Rockets' single-game record.
2013: Joined 25,000-Point Scorers
In 2013-14 season, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were a pair of 25,000-point scorers on the Nets.
February 5, 2014: 3,000 Points
On February 5, 2014, James Harden became 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
On February 25, 2014, James Harden scored a season-high 43 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings.
2014: Led NBA in Free Throw Attempts
From the 2014-15 season, James Harden led the NBA in free throw attempts and makes every year.
2014: Won the FIBA Basketball World Cup
In 2014, James Harden was a member of the team that won the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
2014: FIBA World Cup Gold Medal
In 2014, James Harden won a gold medal as a member of the United States national team at the FIBA World Cup.
2014: Committed to Improvement on Defense
In early 2014, criticisms of James Harden's defense intensified, and during the 2014 offseason, he committed to an improvement on defense, and it manifested as early as August of that year.
April 2015: Two 50-Point Games
In April 2015, James Harden became the first player in Houston Rockets franchise history to have two 50-point games in a season.
August 3, 2015: Adidas endorsement deal
On August 3, 2015, Adidas offered James Harden a 13-year, $200 million endorsement deal.
November 2015: 43-Plus Points
In November 2015, James Harden became the first Houston Rocket to score 43-plus points in consecutive games since Malone in 1981-82.
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.
February 2016: Stephen Curry Scoring Record
In February 2016, Stephen Curry scored 10+ 3PM in consecutive games.
July 9, 2016: Contract Extension
On July 9, 2016, James Harden signed a four-year, $118.1 million contract extension with the Rockets.
September 2016: Point Guard Role
In September 2016, Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni announced that James Harden would take on the point guard role.
2016: Played at Point Guard
During the early portion of the 2016-17 season, Harden was played at point guard, which resulted in him averaging over 10 assists per game for the first time in his career.
2016: Withdrew from Team
In 2016, James Harden was a candidate for the Olympics, but he withdrew from the team.
December 31, 2016: 53-Point Triple-Double
On December 31, 2016, James Harden recorded a triple-double with 53 points, 17 assists, and 16 rebounds.
July 8, 2017: Signed contract extension with Rockets
On July 8, 2017, James Harden signed a four-year contract extension with the Houston Rockets for approximately $160 million, securing a six-year deal with $228 million guaranteed, the richest contract in NBA history at the time.
2017: NBA Most Valuable Player
In June 2018, James Harden was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017-18 season.
2018: 40-point games
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: Western Conference Player
In 2018-19 season, James Harden received his fourth Western Conference Player of the Week honor.
July 18, 2019: Part owner of Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash
On July 18, 2019, James Harden became a part owner of Houston Dynamo (MLS) and Houston Dash (NWSL), stating his desire to invest in Houston.
October 4, 2019: Apology to China
On October 4, 2019, after a tweet from Rockets GM Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong protests led to backlash, James Harden apologized to China.
October 30, 2019: Harden scores 59 points against Wizards
On October 30, 2019, James Harden scored 59 points, along with nine assists, in a win against the Washington Wizards.
November 11, 2019: Western Conference Player of the Week
On November 11, 2019, James Harden was named the Western Conference's Player of the Week.
November 30, 2019: Harden scores 60 points against Hawks
On November 30, 2019, James Harden scored a season-high 60 points, along with 8 assists in 31 minutes, in a win against the Atlanta Hawks.
December 11, 2019: Harden scores 55 points against Cavaliers
On December 11, 2019, James Harden scored 55 points in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
December 13, 2019: Harden scores 54 points against Magic
On December 13, 2019, James Harden scored 54 points in a win against the Orlando Magic.
December 21, 2019: Harden passes Elgin Baylor
On December 21, 2019, James Harden passed Elgin Baylor for most 40-point games in NBA history with 40 points in a win against the Phoenix Suns.
2019: Led NBA in Free Throw Attempts
James Harden led the NBA in free throw attempts and makes every year until the 2019-20 season.
November 2020: Trade demanded
In November 2020, James Harden demanded a trade from the Rockets.
2020: Trade Request
At the beginning of the 2020–21 season, James Harden requested a trade and was subsequently traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
2020: 40-point games
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.
2020: Trade to the Brooklyn Nets
Near the end of 2020, James Harden requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, intending to form a superteam.
January 14, 2021: Traded to Brooklyn Nets
On January 14, 2021, James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal.
October 22, 2021: Moved Past Kyle Korver on All-Time Three-Pointers Made List
On October 22, 2021, Harden surpassed Kyle Korver for fourth on the all-time three-pointers made list, putting up 20 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in a 114–109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, James Harden was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, honoring him as one of the league's top 75 players.
2021: Joined 25,000-Point Scorers
In 2021-22 season, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were a pair of 25,000-point scorers on the Lakers.
2021: Eastern Conference Player of the Week
In February 2021, James Harden earned his first Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor, after logging a double-double average with 25.3 points and 11.3 assists over three games.
January 15, 2022: 27 Points and Tied Season High 15 Assists
On January 15, 2022, Harden scored 27 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and tied a season-high of 15 assists in a 120–105 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
February 10, 2022: Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
On February 10, 2022, James Harden, along with Paul Millsap, was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers from the Nets 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, Harden re-signed with the 76ers on a two-year, $68.6 million deal.
2022: Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
At the 2022 trade deadline, James Harden was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers.
2022: Requested a Trade
Following the 2022-23 season, Harden picked up his option with the 76ers but requested a trade, and stated "Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of".
November 1, 2023: Traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
On November 1, 2023, James Harden, along with P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev were traded from the 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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 logged his 75th career triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a 127–107 victory 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 and also became the 20th player in NBA history to reach 26,000 points in his career.
January 30, 2025: Named All-Star Reserve
On January 30, 2025, James Harden was named as a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, marking his eleventh selection.
2025: 11th All-Star Game
In 2025, James Harden was named to his 11th All-Star Game after being traded to the Clippers at the start of the 2023-24 season.
