James Harden is the Best Left-Handed Basketball Player to Ever Live

James Harden was selected third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he is most well known for his time with the Houston Rockets, where he became a perennial All-Star and even won an MVP award in 2018. The lefty was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets at the beginning of the 2021 season, reuniting him with former OKC teammate Kevin Durant to form an all-time scoring trio alongside Kyrie Irving as well. As one of the best playmakers ever, Harden is already the greatest left-handed player in NBA history.

Most career PTS by a lefty in NBA history:
1. James Harden (22,045)^
2. David Robinson (20,790)
3. Bob Lanier (19,248)
4. Gail Goodrich (19,181)
5. Zach Randolph (18,587)
pic.twitter.com/Rgu7ShmpBw
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

INTERESTING FACTS

Nets season records: 20pt Triple Doubles (12), GP (7) with 30+ PTS & 10+ AST
Other Nets records: 1st player with a playoff 30pt Triple Double, 1st player with 40+ PTS & 10+ AST in 1 Playoff GP
Rockets career records: 3PM (2,029), AST (4,796), PPG (29.6), Triple Doubles (46), & FTM (5,554)
Rockets season records: PTS (2,818), 3PM (378), PPG (36.1), & APG (11.2)
Only player with a 60pt Triple Double in NBA history; Most career 50pt Triple Doubles (5) in NBA history
Only player with 30+ PTS against all 29 other NBA teams during 1 season (2018-2019) in NBA history
Most career PTS by a lefty in NBA history: 1. Harden (22,045)^, 2. David Robinson (20,790), 3. Bob Lanier (19,248)
Most PTS by 1 player during the 2010s: 1. Harden (20,209), 2. LeBron (18,990), 3. Russ (17,834), 4. KD (16,973)
Most career AST in Rockets history: 1. Harden (4,796), 2. Calvin Murphy (4,402), 3. Allen Leavell (3,339), 4. The Dream (2,992)
Most season PPG in Rockets history: 1. 2018-19 Harden (36.1), 2. 2019-20 Harden (34.3), 3. 1981-82 Moses Malone (31.1)
Most season APG in Rockets history: 1. 2017 Harden (11.2), 2. 1978 John Lucas (9.4), T3. 1986 Lucas, 2018 Harden (8.8)

MAIN TAKEAWAY

JAMES HARDEN IS THE BEST LEFT-HANDED BASKETBALL PLAYER TO EVER LIVE

COLORS KEY | FULL NETS OUTLOOK

There is no question that James Harden is among the best active NBA players. He has been selected to the All-Star game every season since joining the Houston Rockets in 2012, and he has also earned 1st-Team All-NBA honors six times. The California native made a name for himself as a top scorer with elite handles, leading the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons from 2018 to 2020. What sets the Arizona State product apart, however, is the fact that he is left-handed.

There have been other talented southpaws in the NBA, for example Bill Russell and Chris Bosh, but the Beard stands above the rest when it comes to being a better, more-skilled hooper. Russell, Bosh, and Robinson have championships but Harden already holds the record for the most points (22,045) by a lefty in NBA history, surpassing David Robinson by 1,200+ points and counting. As one of the most prolific and talented scorers in league history, Harden will go down as the best left-handed basketball player ever.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

The best lefty in NBA history

Most career PTS by a lefty in NBA history:
1. James Harden (22,045)^
2. David Robinson (20,790)
3. Bob Lanier (19,248)
4. Gail Goodrich (19,181)
5. Zach Randolph (18,587)
pic.twitter.com/Rgu7ShmpBw
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

The Beard is a talented scorer

James Harden is the only player with a 60pt triple-double in NBA history

The Beard also has the most career 50pt triple-doubles (5) in NBA history pic.twitter.com/9cmS6QVaZd
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

James Harden is the only player with 30+ PTS against all 29 other NBA teams during 1 season (2018-19) in history pic.twitter.com/l9K9lnX6Wj
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

Most PTS by 1 player during the 2010s:
1. James Harden (20,209)
2. LeBron James (18,990)
3. Russell Westbrook (17,834)
4. Kevin Durant (16,973)
5. DeMar DeRozan (15,773) pic.twitter.com/nyldkRVbzO
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

A new star for the Nets

James Harden's records in Brooklyn #Nets history include:
- 20pt Triple Doubles (12) in 1 season
- GP (7) with 30+ PTS & 10+ AST in 1 season
- 1st with a playoff 30pt Triple Double
- 1st with 40+ PTS & 10+ AST in 1 Playoff GPpic.twitter.com/vs8rl07oR9
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

1 of the best in Rockets history

James Harden's records in Houston #Rockets history include:
- Career 3PM (2,029)
- Career AST (4,796)
- Career PPG (29.6)
- Career Triple Doubles (46)
- Career FTM (5,554)
- Season PTS (2,818)
- Season 3PM (378)
- Season PPG (36.1)
- Season APG (11.2)pic.twitter.com/PD4icCobOw
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

Most career AST in Houston #Rockets history:
1. James Harden (4,796)
2. Calvin Murphy (4,402)
3. Allen Leavell (3,339)
4. Hakeem Olajuwon (2,992)
pic.twitter.com/zgR1ScB2Xt
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

Most season PPG in Houston #Rockets history:
1. 2018-19 James Harden (36.1)
2. 2019-20 James Harden (34.3)
3. 1981-82 Moses Malone (31.1)
4. 2017-18 James Harden (30.4)
5. 2016-17 James Harden (29.1)
6. 2015-16 James Harden (29.0)
pic.twitter.com/RP0IqFSYX1
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021

Most season APG in Houston #Rockets history:
1. 2017 James Harden (11.2)
2. 1978 John Lucas (9.4)
3. 1986 John Lucas (8.8)
4. 2018 James Harden (8.8)
5. 1989 Sleepy Floyd (8.6)
6. 2019 Chris Paul (8.2)
7. 2018 Chris Paul (7.9)
T8. 3x James Harden (7.5) pic.twitter.com/nlJjU3t3Wc
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 27, 2021