The Houston Rockets placed a large amount of confidence in James Harden when they traded for him in 2012, and he has not disappointed. From consistent playoff berths to a pair of trips to the Western Conference Finals, he has pushed this team to win.
Early in his Rockets career, he did that primarily as a scorer, and then with the hiring of Mike D’Antoni as a fully realized playmaker extraordinaire.
Last season he won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, and his follow up in 2018-19 might be even better.
Harden’s body of work speaks for itself, but it’s the game-by-game moments that build the resume of a superstar.