James Harden has established himself as one of the best players in NBA history. He had a pretty pedestrian start to his career coming off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder. But while Harden did win a Sixth Man of the Year Award, no one saw him becoming the elite stud he is today when he was traded to the Houston Rockets.
James Harden's stats would show he almost singlehandedly led the Rockets to deep runs in the NBA Playoffs, winning the MVP trophy in the 2017-18 season and making eight All-Star teams. The Beard will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer one day. His exit in Clutch City wasn't ideal, but now that he's with the Brooklyn Nets, he has a really great chance to finally win his first title alongside fellow superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Speaking of which, for this piece, we'll be taking a look at the best teammates Harden has ever played with during his stellar NBA career. Honorable mentions go to Dwight Howard, Eric Gordon, and Jeff Green.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook played three years together on the Thunder before Harden was traded to the Rockets. After battling for several years, they got reunited in H-Town when Westbrook was also shipped.
While many felt the two MVPs would not co-exist, they found ways to work together as they did with the Thunder. The Rockets even went micro-ball to accommodate the two prolific guards. Even though they only lasted one season together with the Rockets, there's no denying that Westbrook is one of the talented guards Harden has ever played with.
SG: Kyrie Irving
Another talented guard Harden has played with is Kyrie Irving. We're going to cheat here a bit and slide Irving to the SG spot because it would be a crime to leave him out. After all, he already gave the PG reigns to Harden with the Nets, so he kind of admitted he's more of a shooting guard.
Even though Gordon, who won the Sixth Man of the Year award alongside Harden, could be a solid choice because of the years he spent with The Beard, Irving's resume is just too much to be dismissed. Even though he and Harden have only played together for less than 10 games, they've already shown how much of a backcourt force they can be.
SF: Kevin Durant
No questions here. Durant and Harden are two of the best scorers in NBA history. It's a shame we weren't able to see them play as teammates for more than three years with the Thunder. It was a team replete with endless potential. Harden was only scratching the surface during his first years with KD, averaging 12.7 points and 2.5 assists in 220 games.
But here we are now. Durant and Harden are back together and are expected to wreak havoc in the years to come. It's clear that Harden hasn't played with a more talented player than KD—a fellow MVP, perennial All-NBA Team member, and an unstoppable offensive weapon.
PF: PJ Tucker
While it's a bit tempting to put Blake Griffin here just by virtue of accolades, PJ Tucker fits the bill more. He and Harden have developed a deep relationship and it surely was felt on the floor.
Tucker joined the Rockets in the 2017-18 season and immediately helped Harden win the MVP trophy. Tucker's defense and corner three-point shooting were vital to the Rockets' success, which also gave Harden more room to operate and become the elite playmaker he is. Tucker enjoyed his most productive seasons with the Rockets and it's no coincidence that he had Harden with him all those years.
C: Clint Capela
Howard left the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2013 to sign with the Rockets so he could play with Harden. While they went to the Western Conference Finals during the 2014-15 campaign, their relationship became strained, with Howards leaving for the Atlanta Hawks.
So, we're sticking Clint Capela here. While he doesn't have the same resume as Howard has, he has truly blossomed in Clutch City, helping Harden become an MVP player as well. Harden has never had a better pick-and-roll partner than Capela, helping him average career-highs in assists and even leading the NBA. Clint Capela wouldn't be the player he is today without James Harden and vice versa.
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