James Harden
MVP Rockets (2017-19) · 2017–2019
Harden's elite Scoring (95) and elite Shot Creation (92) define this era, while Defense (48) is the notable gap.
Trophy Case
2018
Averaged 36.1 PPG — the highest since Jordan
2012
Averaged 16.8 PPG off the bench before becoming a superstar starter
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
10 selections — the 'Beard' was an offensive force
2018, 2019, 2020
3 consecutive titles — peaked at 36.1 PPG in 2018-19
2017
Led the league at 11.2 APG — rare for a shooting guard
Signature Moments
60-Point Triple-Double
Harden scored 60 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished 11 assists — the only 60-point triple-double in NBA history. He shot 19-for-30 from the field and 5-for-14 from three. It was the most statistically absurd single game in modern basketball.
Nobody else has ever done this. A 60-point triple-double. It's the kind of stat line that looks like a typo.
32-Game 30-Point Streak
Harden scored 30+ points in 32 consecutive games — the longest streak since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964. He averaged 41.1 points during the stretch. He carried the Rockets almost single-handedly, playing iso ball that was impossible to guard.
Thirty-two straight games of 30+ points. Only Wilt had a longer streak — in an era when players scored 50 regularly. Harden did it in the modern defensive era.
The Step-Back Three — A New Art Form
Harden perfected the step-back three-pointer into the most unguardable move in modern basketball. He created space where none existed, drawing fouls and hitting shots that shouldn't go in. He led the league in scoring three times using a move that didn't exist 10 years earlier.
He invented a move and built an entire offense around it. The step-back three changed how the game is played and officiated.
Career Numbers
Assists Per Game
7.0
Career Points
25,805
Free Throw %
All-time great at getting to the line
.861
Peak Ppg
2018-19: 36.1 PPG — highest since Jordan
36.1
Points Per Game
Career average
24.1
Rebounds Per Game
5.6
Season Stats · MVP Rockets (2017-19)
Engine Attributes
Fan Debate
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