James Harden

James Harden

NBAPoint Guard|Cleveland Cavaliers
United StatesAugust 26, 1989

Biography

James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards and scorers in NBA history. In 2021, Harden was honored as one of the league's top 75 players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Harden is also a two-time member of the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2014 FIBA World Cup. Harden is nicknamed "the Beard" after his characteristic facial hair. Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009. Harden was selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2012, he 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. After the Thunder refused to offer him a max contract extension, Harden was unwilling to take a pay cut and was subsequently traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2012–13 season. In his first season with the Rockets, Harden set or matched several team records and was named to his first All-NBA Team (a third-team selection), as well as his first NBA All-Star team. Over the next seven full seasons with Houston, Harden led the league in scoring three times and assists once, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2018 while leading the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals. He was also named to seven consecutive NBA All-Star teams and earned All-NBA First Team honors six times. 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. With Brooklyn, he was named to his ninth and tenth consecutive All-Star games before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2022 trade deadline. In 2023, Harden led the league in assists for the second time in his career. He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2023–24 season and was named to his 11th All-Star Game in 2025.

Photos

James Harden — NBA Guard for Cleveland Cavaliers
James Harden — NBA Guard for Cleveland Cavaliers
James Harden — NBA Point Guard for Cleveland Cavaliers
James Harden — NBA Point Guard for Cleveland Cavaliers

Career Timeline

1989personal

(born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the ...

(born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

2009achievement

Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he w...

Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009.

2009career

Harden was selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the ...

Harden was selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2012achievement

Harden is also a two-time member of the United States national team, winning ...

Harden is also a two-time member of the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2014 FIBA World Cup.

2012career

In 2012, he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year and helped Oklahoma City reac...

In 2012, he 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.

2012career

After the Thunder refused to offer him a max contract extension, Harden was u...

After the Thunder refused to offer him a max contract extension, Harden was unwilling to take a pay cut and was subsequently traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2012–13 season.

2018career

Over the next seven full seasons with Houston, Harden led the league in scori...

Over the next seven full seasons with Houston, Harden led the league in scoring three times and assists once, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2018 while leading the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals.

2020career

After requesting a trade at the beginning of the 2020–21 season, Harden was t...

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.

2021career

In 2021, Harden was honored as one of the league's top 75 players by being na...

In 2021, Harden was honored as one of the league's top 75 players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

2022achievement

With Brooklyn, he was named to his ninth and tenth consecutive All-Star games...

With Brooklyn, he was named to his ninth and tenth consecutive All-Star games before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2022 trade deadline.

2023career

In 2023, Harden led the league in assists for the second time in his career.

2023achievement

He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2023–24 season ...

He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2023–24 season and was named to his 11th All-Star Game in 2025.

Achievements

2009

Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he w...

Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009.

2012

Harden is also a two-time member of the United States national team, winning ...

Harden is also a two-time member of the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2014 FIBA World Cup.

2022

With Brooklyn, he was named to his ninth and tenth consecutive All-Star games...

With Brooklyn, he was named to his ninth and tenth consecutive All-Star games before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2022 trade deadline.

2023

He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2023–24 season ...

He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2023–24 season and was named to his 11th All-Star Game in 2025.

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