The last decade in the NBA has been dominated by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, but a former Houston Rockets player recently included James Harden in that category for an important reason as well.

© Harry How/Getty ImagesJames Harden of the LA Clippers hugs Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors on November 18, 2024.

In the medium term, an NBA era that was shaped for nearly 15 years by a group of players led by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant will eventually come to an end.

To that list, James Harden can also be added, with the 35-year-old guard recently receiving enormous praise from a former Houston Rockets teammate.

“James is one of the greatest scorers of all time,” Chandler Parsons said in an interview with Run It Back, praising Harden‘s impressive performance in the Los Angeles Clippers‘ win over the Detroit Pistons, in which he scored 50 points.

“He’s also not slowing down at all, right? Like these guys—like Steph (Curry), LeBron (James), like KD (Kevin Durant)—he’s also so productive, still an All-Star.

It’s super impressive,” added Parsons, who played alongside Harden on the Houston Rockets between 2012 and 2014. “Just take a second to appreciate how good these guys are at scoring the basketball.”

“We always talk about how he got the foul change rule, with how he created contact, he patented kind of step back going right, left-handed three-pointer.

And he’s still doing that at a high clip,” the former forward continued. “It’s just unbelievable how he’s managed to keep his body in shape and healthy for the most part of his career. He’s been very fortunate with injuries.”

James Harden and Chandler Parsons of the Houston Rockets, and Kendrick Perkins of the Oklahoma City Thunder look for a rebound on April 29, 2013.

Harden’s unfinished business

Chandler Parsons’ praise for James Harden is well-deserved. The 35-year-old guard has spent a decade and a half among the NBA’s elite, with 11 All-Star selections, three scoring titles, two assists crowns, and an MVP award in 2018.

However, one major piece of Harden’s career that remains absent—and likely one of the key factors that separates him from LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant in most people’s eyes—is an NBA title.

While he has made tremendous efforts to reach that goal and has come close on a few occasions, the championship has eluded him so far.

Harden steps up for the Clippers

With Kawhi Leonard still searching for his best form after battling injuries during the last few months, James Harden has assumed the responsibility of leading the Los Angeles Clippers in their pursuit of the playoffs.

The guard has elevated his scoring average compared to the past few NBA seasons.

After showing a decline in scoring during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and in his first season with the Clippers—posting a 10-year low of just 16.6 points per game last year—Harden has rebounded.

This season, he’s raised that figure to 22.1 points per game, proving he can adjust his game to fit the needs of the team, taking on either the role of the primary scorer or playmaker depending on the context.