James Harden’s Past Teams

Entering into his 15th season in the NBA, hardly any basketball fan is unaware of who James Harden is. The 6-foot 5-inch combo guard who is affectionately known as "the Beard" has made waves for many years through the NBA. His is a journey that keeps unfolding as he tries his level best to win that coveted Championship which has been eluding him since the past decade and a half.

Harden is a top-quality player deserving of a ring, but somehow, he has managed to be in the NBA Finals only once in his glittering career. This is the sad part of sports where some great players like Harden remain ringless, but then again that is what team sports is all about. It is the execution of every individual on the team from the players to the coaches to the support staff. Winning the NBA Championship is no easy feat and sometimes the stars just don't line up no matter who the player is.

In reality, Harden was seen as a game-changing force and an indispensable asset to the teams he played in. James Harden possesses the ability to transform an entire team's dynamic through his exceptional skills and unwavering determination. Let us have a glance at the teams that “the Beard” played for and how they fared during his time.

James Harden Past Teams

Drafted as 3rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, the Arizona State product hit the ground running with his elite gameplay. He has played for four different teams and made it to the postseason every year. James Harden started as a bench player but quickly moved to an irreplaceable starter in his teams. Following are his performance highlights for various teams.

1. Oklahoma City Thunders (2009-2012)

The 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year was going to be one of the early draft picks in the 2009 NBA draft. As the Thunder selected him, he was initially handed the bench role with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook taking the charge.

Sharpshooter James recorded 37.5% shooting from the range, which was the fourth-highest 3-point percentage in NBA history for a player under the age of 21 with a minimum of 150 attempts. Harden also set a record for the most consecutive 3-point made by a rookie. He connected on seven straight 3-point field goals over two games.

After winning a place in the All-NBA Rookie 2nd team, Harden's game slowly but steadily started to get better. In the 2011-12 season, he went a notch up and won The Sixth Man of the Year award. He helped his team to reach the NBA finals for the 1st time since 1996. After falling behind superstars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Harden decided to not resign as a free agent and was thus traded away to the Houston Rockets.

2. Houston Rockets (2012-2021)

It was in Houston that Harden rose to a superstar status. He quickly became their primary scorer and facilitator under various coaches. Then Rockets GM Daryl Morey called Harden a "foundational" player and expected him to be Houston's featured player. Harden replied with a franchise-record debut performance of 37 points, a career-high twelve assists, six rebounds, four steals and one block.

Harden’s inclusion in the roster allowed the Rockets to recapture a playoff spot after three seasons' worth of failures. Later, James led them to the postseason each year and even made it to conference finals with the help of stars like Chris Paul and Eric Gordon.

Most of the accolades won by James Harden are during his Rockets years. He made 10-straight All-Star selections. He won 3 scoring titles and also led the league in assists during his stay with the Rockets franchise. James was also included in the All-NBA first team 6 times while with the Rockets. Proving his GM’s word right, the Los Angeles native became the face of the franchise and still holds the record for most assists in franchise history. Harden also leads the franchise in most three-pointers made (2029) more than 1000 shots ahead of the next star.

Despite spending 10 seasons in Houston, Harden remains their 2nd All-time leading scorer only behind the legendary Hakeem the "Dream" Olajuwon.

3. Brooklyn Nets (2021-2022)

After an illustrious career in the Rockets’ jersey, a lack of championships forced Harden out. He requested a trade and formed a superteam with championship-experienced players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. The team was stacked with scorers, but Harden held his own by setting a franchise record for having a triple-double debut.

Some internal issues shortened Harden’s stay in a massively title-favorite team, but he finished with an average of 23 points, 8.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, to help the Nets make a push in the league. Even with a superstar team, injury problems derailed the Nets' progress, and many times Harden was left as the lone star to battle it out. Frustrated with the situation, he once again demanded a trade.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (2022-2023)

Harden’s move from the Nets surprised many while increasing Philly’s chances in the title run. Joining hands with megastar Joel Embiid, Harden formed a perfect one-two punch of backcourt and frontcourt star power.

He again looked sharp with his gameplay, leading the league in assists, and helping Embiid win his 1st ever MVP award in 2023. His performances in the 2022 playoffs were criticized, but Harden stayed focused on the championship goal. Sadly, the 76ers could just make it to the 2nd round in the 2023 NBA playoffs, and there were huge question marks over Harden’s next destination.

Although James Harden played for four different teams, and never won an NBA championship, his contributions to the teams were never questionable. In the pantheon of basketball greats, James Harden's name will be etched undoubtedly. His scoring prowess, playmaking abilities, leadership qualities, and clutch performances make him an invaluable asset to any team he represents.

Harden's contributions have transformed franchises, leaving an indelible mark on the teams he has played for. As his career continues to unfold, it is clear that James Harden's legacy will be remembered as one of the game's all-time greats, showcasing his unparalleled impact on the teams he has called home.

James Harden's Current Team

Los Angeles Clippers

On October 31, 2023, Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski published the story on ESPN claiming that as per sources, James Harden has been traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to his hometown team of Los Angeles Clippers. In the next chapter of his NBA career, Harden has now made his way back to his birth city and will now pair up with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.