Clean-shaven James Harden looks completely unrecognizable without his signature beard
James Harden is famous for his deadly step-back jumper, impressive three-point shooting, and signature facial fuzz.
The Los Angeles Clippers star is known around the NBA as 'The Beard' and has rocked his patented look for as long as people can remember.
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But once upon a time the former NBA MVP was a baby-faced boy looking to make it in the pros.
Before he became an NBA superstar, Harden was an up and coming basketball player at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California.
During his high school days, he was invited to play in the 2007 McDonald's All-American Game where he starred alongside future NBA stars Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.
Fast forward several years and Harden was honing his skills at Arizona State.
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Harden averaged 20 points per game in his second season with the Sun Devils as his beard started to take shape. However, at this point of his life, that iconic facial hair was still in its infancy.
Harden’s older brother, Akili Roberson, once joked that Harden initially started growing his beard because he wanted to compete with him.
"To be truthful I think he started growing a beard because he saw mine coming in and he got hair on his face," Roberson .
However, the Clippers man disagreed.
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"You see his beard? It’s terrible, I didn’t get it from him, I just got it. I didn’t get it from him,” Harden said.
Harden was subsequently drafted third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft.
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His draft day photo showcased just how far he and his beard had come from his high school days.
It was in OKC where both Harden's NBA career and facial hair really began to take off.
The uniquely skilled guard first made a name for himself as a Sixth Man, while his beard grew a reputation of its own.
"Fear the Beard" became a popular mantra whenever Harden came to town.
The volume on Harden's facial hair began to increase playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, transforming into the impressive entity it is today.
After losing to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals, Harden sought a new challenge and a more integral role. He joined the Houston Rockets which changed the trajectory of his career and catapulted him into superstardom.
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Harden averaged 25.9 points per game in his first season with the Rockets. By this point, he was combining his signature beard with a sharp-looking mohawk haircut.
The 10x NBA All-Star would flourish into the game's premier scorer in Houston, and was rewarded for his efforts with the 2018 MVP award.
Across the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons, his beard grew to its fullest extent.
By the time Harden joined the Nets and 76ers, his facial hair was more manicured than before but undoubtedly still one of the best in the game.
'The Beard' was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, but so far postseason success has eluded him.
Along with Chris Paul and Charles Barkley, Harden's one of the best players in NBA history to never win a championship.
Recently, he said Steph Curry is the reason for that, give his dynastic Golden State Warriors dominated Harden’s Rockets in four playoff series in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
“That’s what it’s about. Year 16. Steph is obviously Steph. What he’s been able to accomplish his entire career, it’s unbelievable,” Harden said of Curry.
“We’re all witnessing real greatness. The battles, the Warriors teams I had to go against, it’s probably the reason why I still haven’t gotten a championship yet. What he’s been able to do his entire career is unbelievable. I’m happy to be a part of something like that.”
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Harden's championship woes looked to change late in 2023 when he was traded to the LA Clippers to play alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Individually, it was a great debut season in Tinseltown for Harden.
He passed the likes of Patrick Ewing, Jerry West and Vince Carter for 20th place on the league's all-time scoring list with 25,885 points.
Harden also joined LeBron, Oscar Robertson, and Russell Westbrook as only the the fourth player in NBA history to achieve at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 career assists, and 6,000 career rebounds.
He's now 11th on the all-time scoring list with 27,687 points and counting, and only around 500 points off Carmelo Anthony for tenth on the list.
The Clippers finished the 2023/24 season with a 51-31 record and the fourth seed out West.
However, they lost in the first round of the postseason to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks - the eventual Western Conference champions.
This season, Harden enjoyed somewhat of a career resurgence, making the All-Star team for the first time since 2022.
He helped the Clippers secure the fifth seed and are currently in a brutal first round series against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
The Clips levelled the series with a 111-105 win at the Intuit Dome on Thursday night, forcing a Game Seven decider on Saturday to see who advances to face the top seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
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