A walking bucket during his days in Houston, James Harden‘s marriage with the Houston Rockets was a scoring success. Taking up most of the offensive responsibilities, “The Beard’s” ability to score the ball was unparalleled, coupled with his crafty ball-handling and iconic step-back jumper.
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Harden to the Rockets in 2012 after failed contract negotiations. Marking a new start, the former 6th MOY was now seen in an increased role, making All-Star and All-NBA teams in his debut season with the Texas franchise.
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The following years saw Harden regularly feature in the MVP conversation before winning it in 2018. Making waves on the offensive end, the 6’5″ guard was crowned scoring champion for three consecutive years. He had a strong relationship with the front office, which rewarded him with what was then the richest contract in NBA history — a six-year, $228 million deal.
“I know where home is, I know where I want to be. I know where I want to retire, ultimately, and where I want to win a championship. Everything is going to happen here in Houston, and that’s the reason I’m here forever,” said James, who eventually forced his way out in 2021.
Dream of winning a championship for the Rockets
The Rockets made the playoffs in all of Harden’s nine years with the franchise, but were unable to make it past the WCF. Singing a landmark six-year extension worth $228M ahead of the 2017-18 season, “The Beard” had his eyes set on the Larry O’Brien trophy.
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“I’ve worked extremely hard. Thanks to Leslie Alexander (ex-Rockets owner) for giving me that opportunity, but it doesn’t really mean anything without holding that championship up. That’s what we’re working toward. That’s why I’m in the gym every single day, and I won’t stop until I get it,” said the NBA’s 75th anniversary team member.
Sadly, the Rockets failed to replicate their regular-season success in the playoffs, with Harden largely accountable as well. The three-time scoring champion hasn’t lived up to expectations in the postseason, with his numbers plummeting, especially during clutch situations.
Forcing his way out of Houston
The Rockets’ front office did everything in its capacity to give Harden all the help he needed, whether it was pursuing Dwight Howard or trading for Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Unfortunately, none of the power moves yielded results.
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Nonetheless, Harden deserved some of the blame as well, given his mediocre playoff performances. Appearing in three Game 7s during his tenure in Houston, the former MVP shot 35.9 percent, including 17.2 percent from the 3-point line, averaging 5.3 turnovers.
After a semi-final exit against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 Bubble, the shifty guard demanded a trade. What followed were acts of defiance from the veteran guard, who appeared out of shape during the training camp and reported late for training sessions.
Harden’s reluctance to work things out was visible in his lackluster approach to start the season. Traded to the Nets in 2021, “The Beard” found a new purpose to play alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but fate had different plans as he continued to juggle teams before landing up with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023. Still, the one thing that continues to drive him is the search for that elusive ring to finally crown his career.