Calvin Murphy 63-Point Game vs Nuggets (1978)

Lore & Background

Harden was born on August 26, 1989, in Compton, California. He played college basketball for Arizona State, where he was a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009. He was selected third overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. After being named Sixth Man of the Year in 2012 and helping the Thunder reach the NBA Finals, he was traded to the Houston Rockets before the 2012–13 season. He spent seven full seasons with Houston, leading the league in scoring three times and assists once, and was named NBA Most Valuable Player while leading the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals. He was later traded to the Brooklyn Nets, then to the Philadelphia 76ers, then to the Los Angeles Clippers, and finally to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2026.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed above the hardwood, casting long shadows across the court as the fourth quarter wound down. Murphy stood at the free-throw line, sweat dripping from his brow, the crowd holding its breath. He sank the final shot in a flurry that would define his legacy, the ball swishing through the net with a sound that echoed louder than any cheer.

Reader's Guide

Harden is nicknamed 'the Beard' after his characteristic facial hair. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He is a two-time member of the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2014 FIBA World Cup. He has been named to 11 NBA All-Star Games through 2025.

Did You Know?

• Harden originally played baseball but started focusing on basketball around age 10.
• He attended Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, and led the team to two consecutive California state titles.
• In his first game with the Rockets, Harden scored 37 points and 12 assists, the first NBA player to achieve that in a team debut.
• Harden was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the 2026 trade deadline.