James Edward Harden Jr. is a highly acclaimed American professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest scorers and shooting guards of all time in the history of the NBA. His exceptional skills and contributions to the league were acknowledged in 2021 when he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, solidifying his place among the league's top 75 players.
1962: Wilt Chamberlain's Dominant Scoring Margin
During the 1962–63 season, Wilt Chamberlain established the largest scoring margin in NBA history, averaging 8.1 points per game more than the second-leading scorer, demonstrating his unparalleled scoring prowess.
December 1967: James Harden records statline not achieved since Oscar Robertson in 1967
In March, James Harden became the first NBA player since Oscar Robertson in December 1967 to record at least 450 points, 150 assists, and 100 rebounds in a single month.
March 1968: James Harden records statline not seen since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968
On January 20, James Harden became the first NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain in March 1968 to record at least 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists in a game.
1977: NBA Begins Tracking Turnovers
During the 1977-78 season, the NBA began tracking turnovers.
1977: James Harden breaks NBA single-season turnover record
In 1977, James Harden broke Artis Gilmore's single-season record for turnovers, recording 374.
1978: Calvin Murphy sets Houston's single-game scoring record
In 1978, Calvin Murphy established Houston's single-game scoring record with an impressive 57-point performance.
1978: Moses Malone Wins NBA MVP Award
Moses Malone won the NBA MVP award in the 1978–79 season, demonstrating his exceptional skills and impact on the game.
1979: NBA Player of the Month Award Inception
The NBA Player of the Month award was created in the 1979-80 season.
1981: Malone's scoring streak
During the 1981–82 season, Malone set a record by scoring at least 20 points in 29 straight games, a record that stood for a significant period.
1981: Moses Malone Wins Second NBA MVP Award
Moses Malone's dominance continued as he earned his second NBA MVP award in the 1981–82 season.
August 26, 1989: James Harden is Born
On August 26, 1989, James Edward Harden Jr. was born.
1989: Michael Jordan achieves a historical statistical feat
In the 1989–90 season, Michael Jordan achieved a historic feat by recording 2,700 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds, a testament to his all-around excellence.
1993: Hakeem Olajuwon Wins NBA MVP Award
Hakeem Olajuwon earned the NBA MVP award in the 1993–94 season, solidifying his status as one of the league's most dominant centers.
1994: Houston Rockets win first division title since 1994
In 1994, the Houston Rockets won their first division title since 1994.
1997: Michael Jordan's Playoff Shooting Slump
In the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan experienced a rare shooting slump, going 0-of-11 in a game against the Miami Heat, highlighting that even the greatest players can face challenges on the court.
May 1999: Michael Dickerson Sets Consecutive 3-Point Record
In May 1999, Houston guard Michael Dickerson made eight straight 3-point field goals, which at the time was the most consecutive 3-point makes by a rookie.
2003: Nets First Place in Eastern Conference
In 2003, the Nets reached first place in the Eastern Conference.
March 2007: Kobe Bryant scores 50+ points in four straight games
In March 2007, Kobe Bryant achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 50 or more points in four consecutive games.
April 2007: Vince Carter Wins Player of the Month
In April 2007, Vince Carter won the Player of the Month award.
November 30, 2008: Harden Scores Career-High 40 Points
On November 30, 2008, James Harden scored a career-high 40 points in an 88–58 victory over UTEP.
2008: Harden's Freshman Year at Arizona State
In his freshman year, Arizona State was picked to finish ninth in the Pac-10 Conference. Behind Harden's 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, the Sun Devils went 21–13 (9–9) and finished tied for fifth in the Pac-10.
2009: Harden Named Pac-10 Player of the Year; Declares for NBA Draft
Following the 2009 conference season, James Harden was named the Pacific-10 Conference's Player of the Year. He was also named a consensus All-American. After the conclusion of the season, Harden declared for the 2009 NBA draft.
2009: The Beginning of the Beard
In 2009, James Harden started growing his trademark beard.
2009: Harden Makes NBA Debut, Records High 3-Point Percentage
James Harden was selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He recorded the fourth highest 3-point percentage in NBA history (.375) for a player under the age of 21 (minimum of 150 attempts) during the 2009–10 season. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team at the conclusion of the season.
January 1, 2010: Harden Finishes the Decade as NBA's Leading Scorer
Despite starting his career as a sixth man with the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden finished the decade as the NBA's leading scorer with 19,578 points since January 1, 2010.
March 2010: Rodrigue Beaubois Scores 40 Points off the Bench
In March 2010, Dallas guard Rodrigue Beaubois scored 40 points in a game coming off the bench.
2010: Harden Scores in Double Figures 54 Times
During the 2010–11 season, James Harden scored 10-plus points on 54 occasions.
March 6, 2011: Harden Scores Season-High 26 Points
During the 2010–11 season, James Harden scored a season-high 26 points against the Phoenix Suns on March 6, 2011.
2011: Harden Wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
James Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 62 games (two starts) during the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, for which he received the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
April 18, 2012: Harden Scores 40 Points off the Bench
James Harden scored a season-high 40 points against Phoenix on April 18, 2012, becoming the first NBA player in a reserve role to score 40 points since Dallas guard Rodrigue Beaubois in March 2010.
October 31, 2012: James Harden signs contract extension with Houston Rockets
On October 31, 2012, James Harden signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets.
2012: James Harden named to All-NBA Third Team
In 2012, James Harden was named to the All-NBA Third Team, his first such selection.
2012: Harden Wins Gold Medal at Summer Olympics with Team USA
James Harden was a member of the United States national team, winning a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2012: Harden Named NBA Sixth Man of the Year; Reaches NBA Finals with Oklahoma City Thunder
In 2012, Harden was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year and helped Oklahoma City reach the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat in five games.
2012: Harden Comes off the Bench
In 2012, Harden came off the bench for the first time since 2012.
2012: Oklahoma City Attempts to Re-Sign Harden
During the 2012 free agency period, Oklahoma City attempted to sign Harden to a four-year contract extension worth between $52 and $55 million. Harden later contended that he was given too little time to consider the offer.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, James Harden was part of the United States national team that won a gold medal at the Olympics.
February 2, 2013: James Harden records first career triple-double
On February 2, 2013, James Harden recorded his first career triple-double, posting 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Charlotte Bobcats.
February 20, 2013: James Harden scores career-high 46 points against Oklahoma City Thunder
On February 20, 2013, James Harden scored a career-high 46 points in a win against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
December 26, 2013: James Harden sets NBA record for points with few field goals made
On December 26, 2013, James Harden became the first player in NBA history to score at least 27 points with two or fewer field goals made. He accomplished this by scoring 27 points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field, but 22-for-25 from the free throw line, tying the Houston Rockets single-game record for free throws made.
February 5, 2014: James Harden reaches 3,000 career points with the Houston Rockets
On February 5, 2014, James Harden became the third player in Houston Rockets history to score 3,000 points in his first 120 games with the team.
February 25, 2014: James Harden scores season-high 43 points
On February 25, 2014, James Harden scored a season-high 43 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings.
2014: FIBA Basketball World Cup Championship
In 2014, James Harden was part of the United States national team that won the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
2014: Harden Wins Gold Medal at FIBA World Cup with Team USA
James Harden was a member of the United States national team, winning a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
2014: James Harden finishes second in NBA MVP voting
In 2014, James Harden finished second in the NBA's Most Valuable Player voting, losing out to point guard Stephen Curry.
April 2015: James Harden becomes first Rocket with two 50-point games in one season
In April 2015, James Harden became the first player in Houston Rockets history to have two 50-point games in a single season.
August 3, 2015: Adidas Endorsement Deal
On August 3, 2015, James Harden signed a $200 million endorsement deal with Adidas over 13 years.
November 2015: James Harden scores 43+ points in consecutive games
In November 2015, James Harden became the first Houston Rocket to score at least 43 points in consecutive games since Moses Malone did so in 1981.
2015: James Harden joins elite company in single-season averages
In 2015, James Harden joined LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Oscar Robertson as the only NBA players to average at least 29 points, seven assists, and six rebounds per game in a season.
2016: Withdrawal from 2016 Olympics
James Harden withdrew from the United States national team for the 2016 Olympics.
2017: James Harden Wins NBA MVP Award
In June 2017, James Harden was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017–18 season, marking a significant milestone in his career and making him the third player in Rockets franchise history to receive the award.
2018: Harden Named NBA Most Valuable Player; Leads Rockets to Western Conference Finals
In 2018, James Harden was named the NBA Most Valuable Player while leading the Houston Rockets to the Western Conference Finals.
2018: James Harden receives fourth Western Conference Player of the Week honor
In 2018, James Harden received his fourth Western Conference Player of the Week honor for his exceptional performances during the 2018–19 season.
2018: Harden Becomes First Player Since Wilt Chamberlain with 20+ 40-Point Games in Three Years
Between the 2018-2020 seasons, James Harden became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to record at least 20 games with 40 or more points over a three-year period.
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: Daryl Morey Tweet Controversy
On October 4, 2019, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey issued a tweet that supported the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, causing controversy. Harden later apologized to China.
October 30, 2019: Harden Scores 59 Points, Nearly Matches Career High
On October 30, 2019, after a slow start to the season, James Harden exploded for 59 points against the Washington Wizards, just two points shy of his career high. This impressive scoring outburst helped the Rockets secure a 159-158 victory.
November 11, 2019: Harden Named Western Conference Player of the Week
On November 11, 2019, James Harden was named Western Conference Player of the Week after leading the Rockets to a 3-0 record while averaging 40.7 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game.
November 30, 2019: Harden Scores 60 Points in Three Quarters
On November 30, 2019, James Harden recorded his fourth career 60-point game in a dominant 158-111 win against the Atlanta Hawks. He achieved this feat in just three quarters, joining Klay Thompson and Kobe Bryant as the only players to score 60 points in that timeframe. His 24 shot attempts were the fewest ever in a 60-point game in NBA history.
December 11, 2019: Harden Scores 55 Points, Joins Elite 3-Point Shooters
On December 11, 2019, James Harden scored 55 points, including 10 three-pointers, in a 116-110 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With this performance, he became the fourth player in NBA history to record multiple games with 10 or more three-pointers.
December 13, 2019: Harden Records Back-to-Back 50-Point Games, Makes History with 3-Pointers
On December 13, 2019, James Harden scored 54 points, including 10 three-pointers, for his second consecutive 50-point game. This marked the third time in his career he achieved this feat. Harden also became the second player in NBA history to score 10+ three-pointers in consecutive games.
December 21, 2019: Harden Surpasses Elgin Baylor for Most 40-Point Games
On December 21, 2019, James Harden scored 40 points in a 139-125 victory against the Phoenix Suns. With this performance, he surpassed Elgin Baylor for the most 40-point games in NBA history.
November 2020: Harden Requests Trade from Rockets
In November 2020, James Harden requested a trade from the Houston Rockets following the departure of general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D'Antoni. He also reported late to training camp.
2020: Harden Wins Third Consecutive Scoring Title, Leads League in Steals
In 2020, James Harden won his third consecutive NBA scoring title and also led the league in total steals.
2020: Harden Traded to Brooklyn Nets
After requesting a trade at the beginning of the 2020–21 season, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team trade.
January 14, 2021: Harden Traded to Brooklyn Nets
On January 14, 2021, James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal that also involved the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. The Rockets received Rodions Kurucs, Dante Exum, Victor Oladipo, four first-round draft picks, and four first-round pick swaps in return.
October 22, 2021: Harden Passes Kyle Korver for Fourth in All-Time Three-Pointers Made
On October 22, 2021, Harden passed Kyle Korver for fourth on the all-time three-pointers made list.
2021: Harden Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, James Harden was honored as one of the league's top 75 players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
January 15, 2022: Harden Ties Season-High 15 Assists
On January 15, 2022, Harden tied a season-high 15 assists.
February 10, 2022: Harden Traded to Philadelphia 76ers
On February 10, 2022, the Nets traded Harden and Paul Milsap to the Philadelphia 76ers.
July 27, 2022: Harden Re-Signs with the 76ers
On July 27, 2022, James Harden re-signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $68.6 million deal which included a player option for the 2023–24 season.
2022: Harden Requests Trade and Criticizes Daryl Morey
Following the 2022–23 season, James Harden picked up his $35.6 million option to remain with the 76ers but eventually requested a trade. After trade talks with the Los Angeles Clippers stalled, Harden stated 'Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of'.
2022: Harden Traded to Philadelphia 76ers
James Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2022 trade deadline.
November 1, 2023: Harden Traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
On November 1, 2023, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired James Harden, P. J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev 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. The trade reunited Harden with Russell Westbrook for the second time in their careers.
2023: Harden Leads NBA in Assists
In 2023, James Harden led the league in assists for the second time in his career.