Even when everybody in the building knew he was taking the final shot, there was no stopping James Harden. In what would become the highest-scoring NBA season in over 30 years, the Houston Rockets superstar was already coming off a 2017-18 MVP campaign and had posted four consecutive games of at least 40 points by the time he arrived in Oakland to do battle with the defending-champion Golden State Warriors. Having already forced overtime with a game-tying 3-pointer in regulation, Harden’s Rockets trailed the Warriors by two in the final seconds of the extra session when Harden dribbled searching for an open sliver. He managed to get off the game-winning trey despite the best defensive efforts of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to thwart the attempt, bringing Houston all the way back from down 20 in the process. In the 2018 Western Conference Finals rematch, Harden posted 44 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, plus 10 triples in 23 tries, for his second straight triple-double in a breathtaking 135-134 victory on January 3, 2019. In addition to it being the Beard’s fifth consecutive 40-point game, the performance also came during a stretch of 32 consecutive games with at least 30 points — a run that included three 50-point outbursts as well as a career-high 61. Harden averaged 36.1 points per game in 2018-19, the highest-scoring campaign since 1987.

James Harden

James Harden hits OT game-winner in classic showdown vs. Warriors

Houston Rockets superstar James Harden puts on a handles clinic with the sick through-the-legs dribble before nailing the rainbow three-pointer against the LA Clippers on November 22, 2019.

James Harden sinks stepback triple through eager double team

The game saving block! James Harden of the Houston Rockets blocks a last-second three pointer in Game 7 of their opening round matchup to win the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on September 2, 2020. Playoff basketball at its best!

James Harden blocks game-winning shot attempt to clinch series in 2020 Playoffs

If James Harden has the ball on the perimeter, it’s already too late. After pushing the ball up the floor against a scrambling Chicago Bulls defense, the Philadelphia 76ers playmaker freezes his defender with a series of crossovers before stepping back into a high-arcing three. Harden finished the March 7, 2022 contest with 16 points, eight rebounds and 14 assists.

James Harden sizes up defender then leaps back into triple

Harden drops the clutch bucket! With only 20 seconds left to play in overtime, superstar James Harden of the Houston Rockets shakes off his defender with a hard crossover before nailing the step-back three pointer to give his team the one-point lead against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 26, 2020. Harden turned in a massive performance, dropping 44 points and 17 assists.

James Harden sinks clutch bucket in 44-point, 17-assist game

Never underestimate James Harden’s ability to come up with creative new ways of making plays for his Philadelphia 76ers teammates. Back in Houston on the court he called home for parts of nine seasons, the 2018 MVP shifts into facilitator mode when he whips a low-to-the-ground bounce pass to a cutting Shake Milton, who finishes the possession with an easy layup. The 10-time All-Star managed 21 points, four rebounds, seven assists, two steals and four triples in Philly’s overtime battle against the Houston Rockets on December 5, 2022.

James Harden flings nonchalant dime into post for bucket

Leave the front door open for James Harden and he’s going to stroll right through. The Brooklyn Nets guard runs his defender off a screen at half-court then heads straight to the rack for an emphatic one-handed slam on June 1, 2021. Harden finished Game 5 of their Round 1 matchup with a 34-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double and a series win over the Boston Celtics.

James Harden dunks down middle of paint in series-clinching 2021 Playoff win

New threads, same superstar. In his first game as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, superstar James Harden splits the defense against the Orlando Magic and floats in an easy bucket on January 16, 2021. There’s going to be a lot more where that came from.

James Harden gets to work with triple-double in first game with Nets

The Memphis Grizzlies tried repeatedly to bury the Philadelphia 76ers. A vintage James Harden shooting performance wouldn’t let them. Trailing by four late in the fourth quarter and needing a huge bucket from the 10-time All-Star, Harden drew the defense in on a drive into the lane before kicking it into the corner for Tobias Harris, who got cut off on a baseline drive. The ball made its way back to Harden in the same corner, and with little time and zero space to operate thanks to Desmond Bane’s strong defense, the veteran guard still knocked down the clutch shot with 1:24 to play. Harden scored a game-high 31 points on 10 of 16 shooting — 6 of 9 from deep — while adding seven rebounds and seven assists in the 110-105 victory on February 23, 2023, marking the fifth time the 76ers have won this season when trailing by 15 points. 

James Harden drains unguardable fallaway three from corner

James Harden sees things on offense that the rest of us can only dream of. The Brooklyn Nets guard links up with teammate Bruce Brown at the top of the key then spins a behind-the-back pass around his own defender to hit him right on target for a two-handed flush against the Golden State Warriors on February 13, 2021.

James Harden zips behind-back dime to cutter for dunk

It doesn’t take long to feel James Harden’s impact on a basketball team. In just his second game with a brand-new squad, the Philadelphia 76ers guard put his ability to share the rock on full display, forcing a steal on one end of the floor, then dropping a dime through his legs to a trailing Joel Embiid on the other. The blockbuster trade acquisition let loose with his new franchise, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 16 assists and five steals on February 27, 2022.

James Harden drops no-look dime off to trailing Joel Embiid in transition

Marketplace

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden

James Harden