James Harden is famous for his deadly step-back jumper, impressive three-point shooting and signature facial fuzz.
The Los Angeles Clippers star is known as ‘The Beard’ around the NBA and has rocked his patented look for as long as people can remember.
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Harden’s iconic beard is almost as famous as he isCredit: Getty
Harden has been one of the NBA’s best players since 2009 and is one of the stars featured in the new season of Starting 5.
Season One of the hit docu-series aired last year and followed LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards during the 2023-24 NBA season
Now, Starting 5 Season Two is here, landing on Netflix on Thursday, October 16 with eight episodes each with around a 45-minute runtime.
Season Two of the show follows the daily lives of five new NBA players — Harden, Kevin Durant, Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Haliburton (who got incredibly emotional in once scene) — throughout last season’s ups and downs.
However, long before his time at the summit of The Association, former NBA MVP Harden was just another baby-faced baller looking to make it in the pros.
Before he became an NBA superstar, Harden was an up and coming basketball player at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California.
During his high school days, he was invited to play in the 2007 McDonald’s All-American Game where he starred alongside future NBA stars Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.
WATCH Clean-shaven James Harden looks completely unrecognizable without his signature beard
Fast forward several years and Harden was honing his skills at Arizona State.
Harden averaged 20 points per game in his second season with the Sun Devils as his beard started to take shape. However, at this point of his life, that iconic facial hair was still in its infancy.
Harden’s older brother, Akili Roberson, once joked that Harden initially started growing his beard because he wanted to compete with him.
“To be truthful I think he started growing a beard because he saw mine coming in and he got hair on his face,” Roberson said.
However, the Clippers man disagreed.
“You see his beard? It’s terrible, I didn’t get it from him, I just got it. I didn’t get it from him,” Harden said.
Harden was subsequently drafted third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft.
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A beardless James Harden showcases his skills at a high school basketball camp in 2005Credit: Getty
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Harden’s iconic beard began taking shape during his time with the Sun DevilsCredit: Getty
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On draft day in 2009 the beard was barely a blip on the radarCredit: Getty
His draft day photo showcased just how far he and his beard had come from his high school days.
It was in OKC where both Harden’s NBA career and facial hair really began to take off.
The uniquely skilled guard first made a name for himself as a Sixth Man, while his beard grew a reputation of its own.
“Fear the Beard” became a popular mantra whenever Harden came to town.
The volume on Harden’s facial hair began to increase playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, transforming into the impressive entity it is today.
After losing to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals, Harden sought a new challenge and a more integral role. He joined the Houston Rockets which changed the trajectory of his career and catapulted him into superstardom.
NBA’s Greatest
Harden averaged 25.9 points per game in his first season with the Rockets. By this point, he was combining his signature beard with a sharp-looking mohawk haircut.
The 11x NBA All-Star would flourish into the game’s premier scorer in Houston, and was rewarded for his efforts with the 2018 MVP award.
Across the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons, his beard grew to its fullest extent.
By the time Harden joined the Nets and 76ers, his facial hair was more manicured than before but undoubtedly still one of the best in the game.
‘The Beard’ was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, but so far postseason success has eluded him.
Along with Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, Harden’s one of the best players in NBA history to never win a championship.
Recently, he said Steph Curry is the reason for that, given Curry’s dynastic Golden State Warriors dominated Harden’s Rockets in four playoff series in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
“That’s what it’s about. Year 16. Steph is obviously Steph. What he’s been able to accomplish his entire career, it’s unbelievable,” Harden said of Curry.
“We’re all witnessing real greatness. The battles, the Warriors teams I had to go against, it’s probably the reason why I still haven’t gotten a championship yet. What he’s been able to do his entire career is unbelievable. I’m happy to be a part of something like that.”
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Harden is now in LA playing alongside Kawhi Leonard and Chris PaulCredit: Getty
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Harden is enjoying a career resurgence in Los Angeles and is now featured in Starting 5 Season 2Credit: Getty
Harden’s championship woes looked to change late in 2023 when he was traded to the LA Clippers to play alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Individually, it was a great debut season in Tinseltown for Harden.
He passed the likes of Patrick Ewing, Jerry West and Vince Carter for 20th place on the league’s all-time scoring list with 25,885 points.
Harden also joined LeBron, Oscar Robertson, and Russell Westbrook as only the the fourth player in NBA history to achieve at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 career assists, and 6,000 career rebounds.
He’s now 11th on the all-time scoring list with 27,687 points and counting, and only around 500 points off Carmelo Anthony for tenth on the list.
The Clippers finished the 2023/24 season with a 51-31 record and the fourth seed out West.
However, they lost in the first round of the postseason to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks – the eventual Western Conference champions.
Last season, Harden enjoyed somewhat of a career resurgence, making the All-Star team for the first time since 2022.
He helped the Clippers secure the West’s fifth seed in 2024/25 but they were beaten by Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
The Beard has a postseason reputation of coming up short in the big moments, but will look to go again this season with a rejuvenated Clippers squad.
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Harden is coming off an impressive individual season where he moved to 11th on the all-time scoring listCredit: Getty
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Last season he was named an All-Star for the first time since 2022Credit: Getty
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The Clippers have a veritable Big Three with Harden, Paul and Leonard, but time will tell if they can make any noise in the postseasonCredit: Getty
LA have added Bradley Beal to their roster after the 26-year-old reached a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns. He signed with the Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal having averaged 17 points per game on 49% shooting and 38% from three last year.
2021 champion Brook Lopez has also joined from the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Clips have also re-signed Chris Paul, eight years after the two sides split.
Paul agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million veteran’s minimum deal to play his 21st NBA season with the Clippers after leaving the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent this summer.
Paul recently took pictures in his No.3 jersey and was given a standing ovation by fans chanting ‘CP-3!’ inside the press conference where he was unveiled.
Such chants sparked emotional scenes as Paul began tearing up and at one point put his hands to his eyes.
The future Hall of Famer was named a five-time All-Star with the Clippers and became the all-time leader in assists. He was also part of the ‘Lob City’ core alongside Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford who lit up the league in the early 2010s.
“It was a no-brainer,” an emotional Paul said of his return. “If I’m really honest, I wanted to get back and play here by any means necessary.”
“I’m just so excited about the moves that the team has made this offseason,” the 40-year-old Paul said. “Brad coming to the team, Brook Lopez, all the young guys. I talked to James [Harden], I talked to Kawhi [Leonard], and I’m even more excited about what I think we have a chance to do.”
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Chris Paul has returned to the Clippers and will now form an experience backcourt with HardenCredit: Getty
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CP3 has already played for the Clippers in preseason and they will be hoping he can bring his best to the squadCredit: Getty
Harden and Paul played together in Houston and will now make up the Clippers’ new-look backcourt.
Harden shared a one-word message of Paul’s return as he celebrated his long-time friend’s Clippers announcement.
As for Harden, he’s one of the all-time great scorers, and in the conversation for one of the best shooting guards of all time.
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are generally considered No.1 and No.2, with No. 3 more widely debated.
The general consensus is that Miami Heat legend Dwayne Wade is No. 3, and Wade himself recently weighed in on the debate with him and Harden.
“It’s going to be a lot of arguments about ‘Oh, he’s better because he scored more points. Oh, he’s better because I like his game better. He’s better because he won more rings.’ This conversation never goes anywhere… Winning a ring, it’s a whole different game than being a great player and having stats. I could have more stats if I didn’t care about winning a ring,” Wade said on the Time out podcast.
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