13 things to know about new Sixer James Harden
As he prepares to make his debut, get to know the newest Sixer and most notable guard to play for the franchise since Iverson.
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He’s turned his gangly beard into a signature marketing genius. He’s still searching for his first championship, and it turns out James Harden also is a mama’s boy. Good for him.
We’ll skip his dalliance with a pop culture star since we don’t know our Kardashian from a hole in the wall, and present 13 other things to know about Harden, the most notable guard to play for the Sixers since Allen Iverson.
1
Was drafted third overall in 2009 by Oklahoma City. Blake Griffin (Clippers) and Hasheem Thabeet (Grizzlies) went 1-2. Hasheem Thabeet? Wow.
» READ MORE: The Embiid-Jokic MVP debate is too close to call. It might not be for long.
2
Harden (25.0) has a higher career scoring average than Steph Curry (24.3), who was the seventh pick in 2009. At 25.5, Joel Embiid’s is higher than both of them, however.
3
Harden left Arizona State after his sophomore year. His only NCAA Tournament win was in 2009 when the Sun Devils beat Temple in the first round. Harden had just nine points and shot 1 for 8.
4
Harden’s teams have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in each of the last three years. He’s played in one NBA Finals — in 2012 when he was the sixth man for Oklahoma City — and last played in a conference finals in 2018 when Houston lost to Golden State in 7.
5
Attended Artesia High School in the Los Angeles suburb of Lakewood, which also produced college athletics NIL pioneer Ed O’Bannon and former Eagles player/villain Orlando Scandrick.
6
Is not married, and calls his mother, Monja Willis, the biggest influence in his life.
7
Mom, who even once briefly served as his agent, responded to criticism Harden was getting when he walked away from the hapless Rockets in order to force a trade to the Nets in 2020. He’s asking “for a chance to get a ring, that’s it,” she wrote on Instagram. “Anyone in [their] right mind in this [business] would want that. So if he lost you as a fan, you weren’t the right fan from the start.”
» READ MORE: Best and worst trades in Philly sports history
8
Harden’s father, James, was not in the picture, so mom raised four children while working for AT&T for 28 years. “She wasn’t strict. She let me grow,” Harden told the Houston Chronicle early in his career. “If I messed up or she felt I was on the wrong path, she would tell me. I wasn’t a bad kid growing up, so it was more helping me when I needed help.”
9
Started the Impact13 Foundation and led a number of philanthropic endeavors during his nine seasons in Houston, including annual Thanksgiving and holiday shopping events.
10
Has a stake in MLS’s Houston Dynamo, which play the Union here in Chester on July 30.
11
Turns 33 on Aug. 26. Shares a birthday with actors KeKe Palmer, Macaulay Culkin, and Melissa McCarthy, as well as Mother Teresa.
12
He’s on Twitter @JHarden13 and on Instagram @jharden13, a tribute to his previous uniform number. He will wear No. 1 with the Sixers as No. 13 has been retired in Wilt Chamberlain’s honor.
» READ MORE: Can Joel Embiid stay healthy? His MVP case depends on it.
13
Owns “Thirteen,” a high-end restaurant which promises “an unmeasurable experience right in the heart of Houston.” Get the 16-ounce bone-in filet, medium-rare.
This season
Harden hasn’t played since Feb. 2 because of a hamstring injury, which coincided with the trade deadline. He averaged 22.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 10.2 assists in 44 games for the chaotic Nets. It’s Harden’s lowest scoring average in 10 years despite playing 37.0 minutes per game. The Nets were 26-18 with him in the lineup, 6-7 without.
Numbers crunch
Harden won the scoring title three years in a row (2017-20), and recently was named one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players. His career high is 61 points (twice). He also had 60 twice, and has 23 games of at least 50. His playoff career high is 45.
Harden’s played in 11 games at the Wells Fargo Center, the most recent on Oct. 22 when he had 20 points in a Brooklyn win. In all, Harden has averaged 26.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and his teams are 8-3 in games in Philly.
Harden also has three of the five highest totals for turnovers in a season in NBA history, including the record of 464 in 2016-17. Russell Westbrook has the other two. Harden’s averaging a league-high 4.8 miscues this season, and he’s not nearly the defensive player Ben Simmons was.
But, he’s an 87% free-throw shooter and makes about three three-pointers per game. Simmons, Harden’s predecessor, shot 33.3% on free throws in last season’s playoff series loss to Atlanta (missing 30 of 45), and has only made five three-pointers in his four-year career.
» READ MORE: Ben Simmons never could handle not being the Sixers’ top dog
Sixers’ remaining schedule
At home: 12. On road: 12.
vs. teams +.500: 14 (8 home, 6 road)
vs. teams ahead in East: Miami 2, Chicago 1
vs. teams tied in East: Cleveland 3, Milwaukee 1
vs. next closest: Toronto 2, Brooklyn 1, Boston 0
Notable
March 4-7: Home against Cleveland, at Miami, and home with Chicago.
March 10: Brooklyn, Simmons (maybe) comes in town.
March 14: Denver, top two MVP candidates (Embiid, Nikola Jokic) meet.
March 27: at Phoenix, best team in league, but won’t have Chris Paul.
March 29: Milwaukee, last game against defending champs.
April 3: at Cleveland, start of three-game trip, last of season.
April 10: Detroit, regular-season finale.
» READ MORE: Sixers on pace to fall just short of preseason number for wins, unless pace with Joel Embiid is factored in
Money Matters
Harden is tied for the second highest-paid player in the NBA this season at $44.3 million. He’s already announced that will opt-in next year at $47-plus million. That will conclude his total $228 million contract and put him in line to become an unrestricted free agent for the 2023-24 season when he will be 34.
Highest salaries, 2021-22
1. Stephen Curry, Warriors - $45,780,966
t2. James Harden, Sixers - $44,310,840
t2. John Wall, Rockets - $44,310,840
4. Russell Westbrook, Lakers - $44,211,146
5. LeBron James, Lakers - $41,180,544
6. Kevin Durant, Nets - $40,918,900
Also
13. Tobias Harris, Sixers - $35,955,950
t19. Ben Simmons, Nets - $$33,033,936
t24. Joel Embiid, Sixers - $31,579,390
t122. Danny Green, Sixers - $10,000,000
152. Seth Curry, Nets - $8,207,518
212. Furkan Korkmaz, Sixers - $4,629,630
253. Georges Niang, Sixers - $3,300,000
268. Matisse Thybulle, Sixers - $2,840,160
t274. Paul Millsap, Sixers - $2,641,691
290. Tyrese Maxey, Sixers - $2,602,920
t297. Andre Drummond, Nets - $2,401,537
Source: Spotrac.com