The Houston Rockets would be nowhere near the title contenders they currently are if it wasn't for James Harden's heroics. It's also thanks to Harden's hero ball that he joins another exclusive company of players with specific statistical milestones. His companion this time, according to NBA Stats, is the legendary Kansas City Kings player Nate Archibald.

For those unfamiliar with basketball history, Archibald is a Hall of Fame point guard who won the NBA title during the 1980-81 season. He was a dominant player who commanded attention, averaging 34 points and 11 assists a night during his most productive year. While his Achilles injury took away most of his athleticism, he was a key player for the Boston Celtics' NBA championship.

This fact shows just how irreplaceable a player Harden has become for these Rockets. His offense is one of the best the league has ever seen, scoring at a rate some may even think as inhuman.

However, it seems like he's done with stat-padding as he's zeroing in on the glory that actually matters: winning that Larry O'Brien trophy.

He hasn't made the NBA Finals as the main star of a strong team. He was playing a Manu Ginobili role when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he wants to lead his own team to the Promised Land.

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Whether he manages to deliver on his promise is an entirely different matter. However, he is in the best position to win the championship right now. He has a strong partner in Russell Westbrook. There are no super teams as Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant blew that concept out of the water. He's in the best shape of his life.

It will be up to him to actually show up and get the important Ws.