James Harden

James Edward Harden Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers and shooting guards in NBA history.

High School

Harden was born on August 26, 1989, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, where he was a two-time McDonald’s All-American and a Parade All-American. He was also named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2007.

As a senior, James Harden averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. He led Artesia to a 30-2 record and the California state championship. He was also named the MVP of the state tournament.

Here are some of Harden’s accomplishments in high school:

• McDonald’s All-American (2007)
• Parade All-American (2007)
• Consensus five-star recruit
• Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2007)
• Gatorade National Player of the Year (2007)
• California state champion (2007)
• State tournament MVP (2007)

Harden’s high school experience helped him develop into the player he is today. He learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. He also learned how to deal with pressure and expectations. These are all qualities that have helped him succeed in the NBA.

College

James Harden played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils from 2007 to 2009. He was a two-time All-Pac-10 Conference selection and was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2008.

As a freshman, Harden averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He led the Sun Devils to a 22-12 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He was also named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team.

As a sophomore, Harden averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He led the Sun Devils to a 25-9 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He was also named to the All-Pac-10 First Team.

Harden decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore season. He was selected third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here are some of Harden’s accomplishments in college:

• Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2008)
• All-Pac-10 First Team (2009)
• Two-time All-Pac-10 Conference selection

Professional

Harden was selected third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA draft. He spent three seasons with the Thunder, where he won an NBA championship in 2012. In 2012, he was traded to the Houston Rockets.

Harden has been a star player for the Rockets ever since. He has been named an All-Star eight times, an All-NBA First Team selection six times, and an NBA Most Valuable Player in 2018. He has also led the league in scoring three times.

In 2021, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He played one season with the Nets before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022.

Current Status

Harden is currently a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. He is a nine-time member of the NBA’s 50-40-90 club, which is an exclusive group of players who have averaged at least 50% shooting from the field, 40% shooting from three-point range, and 90% shooting from the free throw line in the same season.

Harden is also a gifted passer and rebounder for his size. He is a two-time NBA assists leader and has averaged at least 7.0 rebounds per game in four seasons.

Harden is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning with Team USA in 2012 and 2016. He is also a two-time FIBA World Cup gold medalist, winning with Team USA in 2014 and 2019.

Harden is one of the most talented and accomplished players in NBA history. He is a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest scorers of all time.