10 absolutely wild stats on new Sixer James Harden

Over the past 5 seasons, solely two NBA gamers have averaged 15 factors, 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocked pictures per sport. 

Ben Simmons and James Harden.

How about that. 

Simmons and Harden have each been stat machines (once they’ve been on the court docket) throughout their careers, and whereas all people in Philly is greater than conversant in ups and downs of Simmons’ profession — and there actually have been some ups, as soon as upon a time — now that Harden is a Sixer, we thought it could be enjoyable to take a deep dive into simply how wild his profession numbers have been up so far.

So listed below are 10 mind-blowing James Harden stats. And if you need 10 Ben Simmons stats, go discover a site in New York. He’s not our drawback anymore! 

Filling the field rating: With profession averages of 25 factors, 6.7 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per sport, Harden is certainly one of solely three gamers in NBA historical past to common 25 factors, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in his profession. The others are LeBron James and Jerry West.

Harden stands alone: Over the past 11 years, Harden has averaged 27.9 factors, 7.7 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per sport. No different participant in NBA historical past has ever reached these averages over any 11-year interval at any level of their profession.

Together with Wilt, Michael and Elgin: Harden’s 36.1 factors per sport for the Rockets in 2019 is the eighth-highest common in NBA historical past. Solely Wilt Chamberlain (5 instances) and Elgin Baylor and Michael Jordan (as soon as every) have averaged extra factors per season. Harden averaged 34.3 factors the following yr, making him certainly one of solely 4 gamers to common 34 factors per sport in consecutive seasons. Chamberlain did it six straight seasons from 1960 by 1965, Baylor in 1961 and 1962 and Jordan in 1987 and 1988. 

Solely NBA participant ever: Harden is the one participant to common 34 factors and seven.5 assists per sport for a season, and he did it twice — 36.1 and seven.5 in 2019 and 34.3 and seven.5 in 2020, each for Houston. He averaged 33.7 factors per sport from 2018 by 2020. Solely Chamberlain, Baylor and Jordan have had increased averages over any three-year span.

Seven-year stretch: Harden and Oscar Robertson are the one gamers in NBA historical past to common 30 factors and seven assists over any seven-year interval. Harden was at 30.4 and eight.5 from 2015 by 2021. Robertson averaged 30.3 and 10.6 from 1961 by 1968.

Not a tiny accomplishment: Harden can be certainly one of solely 4 gamers with not less than one profession season with 11 assists and one season with 30 factors. Robertson had 4 11-assist seasons and 6 30-point seasons and Tiny Archibald and Russell Westbrook have had certainly one of every. 

Prolific shooter: With 7,035 profession 3-point makes an attempt, Harden trails solely Ray Allen (7,429) and Stephen Curry (7,159). However his 36.2 profession taking pictures share from 3 ranks ninety fifth out of 164 gamers who’ve taken not less than 2,500 3s.

Doing it yr after yr: Harden averaged not less than 24 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists for 9 straight years — yearly from 2013 by final season. The one longer streaks in NBA historical past with 24 factors, 4.5 boards and 5.5 assists are by James (18 straight from 2005 by this yr) and Robertson (10 straight from 1961-70  — his first 10 NBA seasons). Harden can prolong his streak to 10 straight seasons if he can enhance his scoring common from 22.5 to 24.0 or higher. However the Sixers solely have 28 video games left, so relying on when he joins the workforce he’d most likely must common someplace round 26.5 factors per sport the remainder of the yr to get there.

Among the many finest for a decade: In 11 years since changing into a full-time starter, Harden ranks first within the NBA in scoring, third in assists and third in steals. Westbrook is the one different participant within the top-five in all three classes.

And the flip facet: Within the curiosity of steadiness, we are going to end with this one: Harden has had eight seasons the place he’s shot worse than 45 p.c and averaged over 3.5 turnovers per sport. No participant in NBA historical past has had extra. Westbrook and John Wall have additionally had eight. Solely seven gamers have shot worse than 45 p.c and averaged 3.5 turnovers of their profession, a gaggle that features Harden, Westbrook, Wall, Pete Maravich, Allen Iverson, Trae Younger and Steve Francis.