All 76ers

James Harden Matches MVP Candidate in Key Statistical Category

Former Sixers guard James Harden is having a stellar second season with the Clippers.
Justin Grasso|
Nov 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) in the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) in the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

In this story:

Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Clippers

Two summers ago, the Philadelphia 76ers were forced to trade away James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. As the former MVP was under the belief he wouldn’t land a desirable deal from the Sixers as a free agent, he picked up his player option and forced a trade.

At the time, those who believed the Sixers had no intentions of paying Harden applauded the move. It seemed the multi-time All-Star was declining.

However, during his first full season with the Clippers, Harden is proving he’s still a major scoring and playmaking threat in the NBA. He was named an All-Star once again after missing the game over the last two years, and he’s even leading the league in impressive statlines, tied with an MVP candidate.

via @StatMuse: Most games with 20/5/5/2/2 this season:

6 — James Harden

6 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

4 — Victor Wembanyama

Nobody else with more than three.

This season, OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been recognized as an MVP candidate. With the season winding down, many view the MVP race as a two-man battle featuring Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Harden isn’t back to his Houston Rockets ways, looking at a potential MVP bid, but he’s certainly still one of the NBA’s elite guards. For the Sixers, seeing him continue to thrive out in LA while they are on pace to miss the playoffs due to a lack of availability from core players must be a tough pill to swallow.

Harden has just three absences under his belt this year. In 65 games, he’s averaged 23 points while shooting 35 percent from deep. He’s also averaging nine assists, along with six rebounds per game.

More 76ers on SI

Sixers Expected to Add Former First-Rounder

Sixers’ Recent Injury Report Sets NBA Record

Jayson Tatum Reacts to Sixers’ Latest Addition

Former NBA Player Calls for Sixers to Shut Down Paul George

Nick Nurse Addresses Paul George’s Status

Published
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

Share on XFollow @JGrasso_
Home/News