James Harden's Impact on the Houston Rockets

James Harden joined the Houston Rockets in 2012 and played for the team until 2021. Throughout his time with the Rockets, he consistently put up impressive numbers and helped lead the team to success. Here's a look at some of the highlights of James Harden's career with the Rockets:

2012-2013

In his first season with the Rockets, James Harden averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. This made him just the fifth player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points in a single season. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, earning his first-ever selection for an All-NBA team.

2013-2014

James Harden was selected to play in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, and he was later named as a starter. He had a strong performance, finishing the game with 8 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. He also became the first Rockets player to earn Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks twice in one season. James Harden was named to the All-NBA First Team at the end of the season.

2014-2015

During the 2014-15 season, James Harden was in the running for the MVP award. He set a new season high with 50 points in a game against the Denver Nuggets, and he also had two 50-point games that season. He helped the Rockets win their first division title since 1994 and earn the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. James Harden was named the National Basketball Players Association's MVP for the 2014-15 season and was also named to the All-NBA First Team. He finished second in the NBA MVP voting.

2015-2016

James Harden set records for the most points scored in back-to-back games and also became the first player in Rockets history to score 43 or more points in consecutive games. He averaged 29 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds per game, making him one of only four players in NBA history to achieve this feat. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team at the end of the season.

2016-2017

James Harden started the 2016-17 season off with a bang, recording a 53-point triple-double in the first game of the season. He also became the first player in NBA history to have at least 2,000 points, 900 assists, and 600 rebounds in a single season. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the third consecutive year and was also voted by the fans as a starter for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. James Harden continued to put up impressive numbers throughout the season, leading the Rockets to a 55-27 record and the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. In the postseason, James Harden had a memorable Game 1 performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 37 points and dishing out 9 assists in a win. The Rockets ultimately fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs, but James Harden's impressive play throughout the season solidified his status as one of the top players in the league.

2017-2018

James Harden had another standout season in 2017-2018, setting a new career-high in points with a staggering 2,356. He also led the league in scoring, with 30.4 points per game, and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2017-2018 season. He also earned All-NBA First Team honors for the third time in his career. The Rockets had a successful season as well, finishing with a 65-17 record and securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

2018-2019

James Harden continued to excel in 2018-2019, leading the league in scoring once again with 36.1 points per game. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time in his career and was also selected to his eighth All-Star Game. The Rockets finished the season with a 53-29 record and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors.

2019-2020

In 2019-2020, James Harden had another strong season, leading the league in scoring for the third straight year with 34.3 points per game. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the fifth time in his career and was also selected to his ninth All-Star Game. The Rockets finished the season with a 44-28 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers.

2020-2021

James Harden's final season with the Houston Rockets was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still managed to put up impressive numbers. He averaged 24.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game, leading the Rockets to a 44-28 record and a spot in the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors. After his time with the Rockets, James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in January 2021, at his insistence.  He no longer felt like the Rockets could get him where he needed to go in his career.

James Harden's time with the Houston Rockets was a period of great success and achievement. He consistently put up impressive stats and helped lead the Rockets to multiple playoff appearances. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise and will always be remembered for his contributions to the team.