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11-Time NBA All-Star’s Comeback Season Concludes With Major Honor

Former Sixers guard James Harden is back on the All-NBA team.
Justin Grasso|
Nov 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) observes the national anthem before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) observes the national anthem before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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James Harden has had a chip on his shoulder since he felt slighted by the Philadelphia 76ers. When the lines got faulty in Philadelphia, Harden made it clear he wanted to move on. After seeing his wish get granted, Harden has been on a mission with the Los Angeles Clippers to become one of the NBA’s best guards once again.

This year’s comeback effort has proven to be a success for Harden. Not only did he land back in the All-Star game for his 11th nod, but Harden was named All-NBA on Friday night.

According to an NBA announcement, Harden was voted to the third team. He joined Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Jalen Williams.

In recent times, Harden has steadily been accused of being on a steep decline. Right before he got to Philly, Harden learned he would earn his 10th All-Star nod. During his first full season with the Sixers, Harden felt he was snubbed from the 2022-2023 All-Star game, after he averaged 21 points and a league-high 11 assists per game.

In the following year, Harden appeared in 72 games for the Clippers. For the second season in a row, he failed to come up with an All-Star nod as he averaged 17 points, nine assists, and five rebounds in 72 games.

There was a dip, but Harden climbed once again. Throughout the 2024-2025 campaign, the Clippers guard posted averages of 23 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in 79 games. He helped lead an often Kawhi-less Clippers team to the postseason. While Harden’s season ended on a low note in the playoffs, the All-Star guard caps off his 16th year with a major accomplishment.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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