Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 40 – James Harden
Career: 2009 – present
Achievements: 2018 MVP; All-NBA (7x); All-Star (9x); Sixth Man of the Year; three-time scoring leader; fifth in career 3-pointers; 38th in career scoring
James Harden was drafted as the third offensive star on the Oklahoma City Thunder, and for a few years paired with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to develop into a true contender, making it to the NBA Finals in 2012. Then the Thunder broke things up, shipping Harden to Houston. There he developed into one of the most prolific and heliocentric stars in basketball history.
Harden’s combination of scoring and passing put him at the center of the universe for the Rockets’ offense, especially once Mike D’Antoni arrived and helped the offense sing around him. Few players set up open shooters or lob threats as well as Harden, and his combination of herky-jerky dribble moves often get him enough space to score inside despite a lack of elite athleticism. His patented stepback 3-pointer is so unguardable it forced defenses to contort into knots trying to stop it.
The problem for Harden is that his game has regularly fallen off in the postseason, whether due to a reduction in foul calls or something internal, a playoff gear Harden can’t tap into. Still just 32 years old despite his career accolades, he has paired again with Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets and could finally add a title to his resume.