Oklahoma City Thunder: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

7. James Harden (SG) — No. 3 pick in 2009 NBA Draft

Career stats (with Thunder):  220 GP, 12.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 44.3 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 83.5 FT%

James Harden was picked with the third overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft. While he is an MVP-caliber player in Houston, he was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2011-12 for OKC when he averaged 16.8 points per game.

Harden only played three seasons with OKC.

During the times Durant and Westbrook were together, the Thunder struggled gaining any offense. Earlier in their careers though, they had James Harden coming off the bench to provide additional support.

James Harden admitted years ago that money was the deciding factor in him leaving OKC to go to Houston, as a four-year, $55 million extension was not enough to get him to stay in OKC.

Via Daily Thunder, Harden said:

"“I felt like I already made a sacrifice coming off the bench and doing whatever it takes to help the team, and they weren’t willing to help me,” Harden said."

It looks like things are paying off for Harden now, as he may become an MVP winner for the 2017-18 regular season. However, Thunder fans are only left to wonder what it would be like if Durant, Westbrook and Harden were able to stay together, and if OKC had decided to pay up rather than send him to Clutch City.

James Harden may be the MVP of the league this year and if he does so, the Thunder’s Big 3, hand-picked players through the draft — James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant — will all have been named MVPs.