How much have James Harden's contracts contributed to his total net worth of $165 million
James Harden has been playing in the NBA for 14 years now. Starting out his career as a sixth man, Harden made a new identity for himself and became one of the greatest shooting guards of all time. Being a superstar in the league means that he's made fat paychecks in his career. As of today, Harden's net worth is valued at $165 million.
But what were his NBA contracts worth to help him achieve his current net worth? Let's take a closer look at all of James Harden's NBA contracts.
James Harden's NBA contracts
James Harden entered the league back in the 2009 NBA draft. He was the third overall pick selected by the OKC Thunder. Coming into the league, nobody really expected him to become the superstar he is today. Harden signed a four-year contract with the Thunder worth $17.83 million. The glorified sixth man earned an average of $4.45 million per year.
When his contract expired in 2013, James Harden felt like he could play a more important role in the NBA. As a result, Harden ended up signing with the Houston Rockets. Despite being fresh from a sixth man role, the Rockets were all-in on "The Beard" and made him their star. Harden signed a five-year contract worth $78.78 million, making an average of $15.75 million per year.
"The Beard" did not disappoint and quickly proved that he deserved the contract he was awarded. In his last season with OKC, Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal per game. Since moving to Houston, his numbers improved significantly, averaging 25.9 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game in his first year.
These figures allowed him to be named to his first out of 10 All-Star selections. James Harden consistently put up the same numbers in the next four seasons. When his first contract with the Rockets expired, Harden ended up re-signing with the team for another four years. This time around, his contract was worth $117.96 million. At that point, Harden was on top of his game.
During his second contract with the Rockets, Harden won the league MVP award in the 2017-18 season. Winning the award only added more value to his name. With that said, "The Beard" signed another contract with Houston and made bigger figures. His third four-year contract with the Rockets was worth $171.13 million. His contract still lasted even up until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
As of today, James Harden is currently signed to a two-year contract worth $68.64 million with the Philadelphia 76ers. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Harden is the third highest-paid NBA player, making a total of $227 million in his first decade.