James Harden
While the cliche may say that defense wins championships, there’s something to be said for a player who can put the ball in the basket. On the offensive side, few are better than James Harden.
After hitting the hardwood at Arizona State, the guard entered the 2009 NBA Draft and joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as the third overall pick. Playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Harden quickly proved a legitimate contributor at the professional level. After a 2012 trade, though, he stepped even further into the limelight.
With the Rockets, Harden emerged as an explosive scorer capable of putting the team on his back. While an MVP crown and scoring titles followed, things didn’t end happily in Texas. Houston never made it over the hump, and in 2021, the bearded guard joined the Brooklyn Nets via trade.
Although Harden’s first season in New York ended in postseason disappointment, there’s no doubting his individual skill. No player averages 25 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game across 12+ professional seasons by accident.
- Current team: Brooklyn Nets
- Former teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets
- Position: Guard
- Drafted: No. 3 overall in 2009 by the Oklahoma City Thunder
- Shooting hand: Left
- Nicknames: The Beard
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