Why James Harden should be the highest-paid player in the NBA

Last summer, James Harden signed an extension and put together a career season, guiding the Rockets to NBA playoffs. Now, he is the richest man in the league. Here’s why last year’s MVP runner-up deserves every penny on his latest deal.

Five years ago, James Harden was considered by many as one of the game’s rising young stars.

Generating countless comparisons to San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili through his play as a sixth man, he helped the Oklahoma City Thunder reach the NBA Finals in 2012.

Now, Harden has proven to be nothing less than the real deal, as the guy who once took a backseat to stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook out in Oklahoma City. He’s done nothing but thrive in his current role as the lead man with the Houston Rockets  — posting a career-high 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game in his fifth year with the franchise.

Earning himself a nice reward in the process.

Last month, Harden officially signed the most lucrative contract extension in league history, as the 27-year-old guard agreed to terms on a four-year, $228 million deal to remain in Houston through the 2022-23 regular season.

This solidified him as the official face of the franchise for years to come.

Can anyone blame him?

Last season, Harden managed to accomplish feats that no player in the game — past or present — ever has. He cemented himself as one of its most groundbreaking stars in the NBA today.

During the 2016-17 regular season, Harden put together arguably the best offensive season in league history, becoming the first player to score over 2,000 points with 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a single season.

However, The Beard didn’t just stop there.

Harden also became the first player to ever score and assist on 2,000 points in one season — accounting for a total of 4,554 points last year for the Rockets, en route to guiding them to the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Even better, he did so in a manner that was efficient unlike any other.

The five-time All-Star posted a true shooting percentage of 61.3 percent, the highest among all qualified shooting guards last season, with a remarkable 27.43 Player Efficiency Rating, as he put together arguably one of the most spectacular performances this past year to cap off 2016 in a major way.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

On New Year’s Eve, Harden threw his own party at the Toyota Center in Houston, scoring a career-high 53 points, with 17 assists and 16 rebounds, to help the Rockets prevail late in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks. In the process, he became the first first player ever to post a 50-15-15 stat line.

Yet, all most people tend to remember him for nowadays is his most recent performance in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 12 — a game in which Harden scored just 10 points on 2-for-11 shooting with six turnovers, as the Rockets saw their season end to the Spurs in demoralizing fashion.

Many criticized him. Some stated that he had quit. But Harden, like all true stars, never ran away from it.

"“You’ve got to take it for what it is,” Harden said to ESPN‘s Tim MacMahon following his woeful outing.“Everything falls on my shoulders. I take responsibility for it, both ends of the floor….But it happened.”"

While Harden has drawn many critics throughout his career over the years, and his defense is considered to be questionable among the eyes of national observers, his presence in Houston, combined with his ability to play at either guard slot on the other end, cannot be overlooked.

Without him, the Rockets do not boast the second most efficient offense in the league behind Golden State last year. Chris Paul never comes via trade, and Carmelo Anthony‘s name, alongside a host of other stars, is never linked to the franchise in recent trade rumors.

Other players may light the league up with their ability to post more points, rebounds, assists and triple-doubles than Harden on a nightly basis.

Next: The biggest winners and losers of 2017 NBA free agency

However, no one can deny the fact that No. 13 is currently the most valuable player on the Rockets right now, as Harden has proven not only to be the biggest step to their turnaround on the court, but also off of it — making him a valid recipient of the NBA’s richest contract to date.