The Houston Rockets have signed superstar James Harden to a four-year Contract Extension that will give him a guaranteed NBA-record $228 million through the end of his deal after the 2022-23 season. The Rockets made the announcement, with team owner Leslie Alexander saying in a statement that Harden showed incredible work ethic, desire to win, and the passion needed to develop into one of the most talented players in the league.
Alexander added that Harden is the perfect leader as the franchise pursues another NBA title. Harden, for his part, called Houston his home and praised Alexander for his full commitment to winning.
Harden recently signed a four-year, $118 million extension with the Rockets last July but he became eligible for the designated player veteran extension (DPVE) after making it to the All-NBA team. Harden also placed second to Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the voting for the MVP Award.
Harden will earn $28.3 million next season and $30.4 million during the 2018-19 campaign under his previous deal before the new DPVE is implemented starting in the 2019-20 season. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, Harden will receive a salary of $37.8 million in 2019-20, $40.8 million in 2020-21, $43.8 million in 2021-22, and $46.8 million in the 2022-23 season.
Harden’s all-around play benefit Rockets
Last season, James Harden almost averaged a triple-double, scoring 29.1 points, with 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game as he led the Rockets to a 55-27 mark and the third seed in the Western Conference. However, the Rockets fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. Aside from his scoring, Harden also accounted for 27.1 points per game through his assists for a combined average of 56.2 points per game, the second-highest single season total in NBA history behind Nate Archibald’s 56.8 in 1972-73.
Since Harden joined the Rockets before the 2012-12 season, he leads the NBA in scoring with 10,823 points, fourth in assists with 2,985, fourth in steals with 671, and third with 1,062 3-pointers made. He also leads in free throws made with 3,431 out of 3,999 attempts.
Rockets became playoff contender with Harden
In his five seasons with the team, Harden led the Rockets to the playoffs every year with a winning percentage of .612.
Harden made it to the First Team All-NBA team in three of the past four seasons and landed second in voting for the MVP award in both 2014-15 and 2016-17. Last season, Harden tallied a total of 2,356 points, 907 assists, and 659 rebounds, becoming the first player in NBA history to record at least 2,000 points, 900 assists, and 600 rebounds in a single season.
