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Houston Rockets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Rockets

By Phil Watson

Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the ball during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. The Jazz won 89-87. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the ball during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. The Jazz won 89-87. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

2012-16. James Harden. 4. player. 169. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Oklahoma City Thunder, Oct. 27, 2012.. SG

The Houston Rockets were looking to the future when the acquired Sixth Man of the Year James Harden.

They got Harden along with Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich and Lazar Hayward from the Oklahoma City Thunder in October 2012 in exchange for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, first-round picks in 2013 and 2014 and a second-round selection in 2013.

HOU_04_HARDEN
HOU_04_HARDEN /

The future, it seems, arrived fast.

Harden is a four-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection with the Rockets, finishing fifth in the MVP voting in 2013-14 and second in 2014-15.

He has also finished second in the league in scoring in both 2014-15 and 2015-16 and fifth in both 2012-13 and 2013-14.

He led the league in minutes per game in 2015-16 after finishing second in 2014-15 and fifth in 2013-14.

In 2015-16, Harden put up 29.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 38.1 minutes per game on .439/.359/.860 shooting.

In four seasons in Houston, Harden is averaging 27.0 points, 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 37.8 minutes per game, shooting .443/.367/.861.

An All-American as a sophomore at Arizona State, Harden opted to turn pro after averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game that season.

He was the third overall pick by the Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft and was an All-Rookie selection in 2009-10 and the Sixth Man of the Year in 2011-12.

Harden renegotiated his current contract and agreed to an extension through 2019-20, which is a player option year.

He is 43rd in NBA history with a free-throw percentage of .855 and 36th with an average of 21.1 points per game.

Next: The Dynasty Befallen By A Bad Foot

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