James Harden
The Beard, James Edward Harden, Jr.
Get notified whenever this star has news
What happened to James Harden today?
No new stories today yet — we check every few minutes.
Browse by day
Who is this?
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.
Career
- 1989Born
- 2007Joined Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball
- 2009Joined Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2009Won Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
- 2012Joined Houston Rockets
- 2012Won NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
- 2018Won NBA Most Valuable Player Award
- 2021Joined Brooklyn Nets
- 2022Joined Philadelphia 76ers
- 2023Joined Los Angeles Clippers
- 2026Joined Cleveland Cavaliers
Trivia
- •Place of birth: Los Angeles
- •Citizenship: United States
- •Known as: basketball player
- •Sport: basketball
What happened recently
What's next in NBA offseason after LeBron James' decision? James Harden, Draymond Green, Jalen Duren eye deals
Cleveland Cavaliers' next 2 roster moves should be obvious after missing LeBron James
Would a James Harden for Jalen Green trade make the Cleveland Cavaliers a better overall team?
NBA rumors: No evidence a Cavs James Harden-Kyrie Irving trade will happen to appease LeBron James
Markieff Morris Makes Bold Prediction on LeBron James, Harden Landing Spots amid NBA Free Agency
As long as James Harden is still a free agent, the Cavs still have LeBron James hope
James Harden Explains Why The Cavaliers Are The Perfect Team For LeBron James This Summer
James Harden Shares True Feelings About LeBron James Potentially Joining Cavaliers
"He could be that MF we know he can be" - Tim Hardaway believes LeBron James can bring the best out of James Harden
Do you trust LeBron James, James Harden & Donovan Mitchell to make it work if LBJ signs w/ the Cavs?
James Harden's surprising contract offer could seal Cavaliers' next championship move
James Harden, Cavaliers on same page as Cleveland pursues LeBron James and roster upgrades
"You guys think for sure that Harden is going back there?" - Dan Le Batard questions James Harden's future if LeBron joins the Cavs
New LeBron James Rumors Reveal Donovan Mitchell, James Harden's Stance on Potential Cavs Return
The King’s Tug-of-War: Inside the LeBron Homecoming Rumors and the Blockbuster Kyrie
This James Harden trade would convince LeBron James to join championship Cavaliers
James Harden waiting to re-sign to give Cavaliers flexibility, possibly for LeBron James: Sources
Cavs’ James Harden declines player option, intends to sign multiyear contract
James Harden opts out but expects to re-sign with Cavaliers on multiyear contract: Source
NBA insider believes Cavs and James Harden should have ‘verbal agreement’ on multiyear deal soon
Kenny Atkinson Q&A: 'I don't think there's a system that could slow James Harden down'
'%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D'100'%20y%3D'130'%20font-family%3D'-apple-system%2Csans-serif'%20font-size%3D'80'%20font-weight%3D'900'%20fill%3D'white'%20text-anchor%3D'middle'%3ENI%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E){kind=small}
'%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D'100'%20y%3D'130'%20font-family%3D'-apple-system%2Csans-serif'%20font-size%3D'80'%20font-weight%3D'900'%20fill%3D'white'%20text-anchor%3D'middle'%3EYU%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E){kind=small}
'%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D'100'%20y%3D'130'%20font-family%3D'-apple-system%2Csans-serif'%20font-size%3D'80'%20font-weight%3D'900'%20fill%3D'white'%20text-anchor%3D'middle'%3E%EA%B9%80%EC%84%B1%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E){kind=small}
