#1PG · Cleveland Cavaliers
Height
6'5"
Weight
220 lbs
Age
36
College
Arizona State
Experience
16 yrs
Wingspan
6'10.8"
Reach
8'7.5"
Grade James Harden
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
On the field, James Harden grades out as an excellent PG for Cleveland Cavaliers (A Impact). That places him 5th of 93 graded point guards. In his on-court role, the grade is excellent (A+ Role), reflecting how he produces relative to others at his position. The contract is harder to defend: the Contract Value Index calls it good value (B+), with the cost outrunning the output. The public read is very positive (A+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score. With 16+ seasons of track record, these grades rest on a deep sample.
| Year | Team | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 1221 | 23.6 | 4.8 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 43.4% | 36.4% | 86.3% |
| 2025-26 | | 70 | 23.6 | 4.8 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 43.4% | 37.5% | 88.4% |
| 2024-25 |  | 79 | 22.8 | 5.8 | 8.7 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 41.0% | 35.2% | 87.4% |
| 2023-24 | | 72 | 16.6 | 5.1 | 8.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 42.8% | 38.1% | 87.8% |
| 2022-23 |  | 58 | 21.0 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 44.1% | 38.5% | 86.7% |
| 2021-22 | | 65 | 22.0 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 41.0% | 33.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020-21 |  | 44 | 24.6 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 46.6% | 36.2% | 86.1% |
| 2019-20 |  | 68 | 34.3 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 44.4% | 35.5% | 86.5% |
| 2018-19 | | 78 | 36.1 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 44.2% | 36.8% | 87.9% |
| 2017-18 | | 72 | 30.4 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 44.9% | 36.7% | 85.8% |
| 2016-17 | | 81 | 29.1 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 44.0% | 34.7% | 84.7% |
| 2015-16 | | 82 | 29.0 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 43.9% | 35.9% | 86.0% |
| 2014-15 | | 81 | 27.4 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 44.0% | 37.5% | 86.8% |
| 2013-14 | | 73 | 25.4 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 45.6% | 36.6% | 86.6% |
| 2012-13 | | 78 | 25.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 43.8% | 36.8% | 85.1% |
| 2011-12 |  | 62 | 16.8 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 49.1% | 39.0% | 84.6% |
| 2010-11 | | 82 | 12.2 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 43.6% | 34.9% | 84.3% |
| 2009-10 | | 76 | 9.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 40.3% | 37.5% | 80.8% |
| Season | Team | GP | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | | 70 | 23.6 | 4.8 | 8.0 | 43.4% | A A |
| 2024-25 | | 79 | 22.8 | 5.8 | 8.7 | 41.0% | A A |
| 2023-24 | | 72 | 16.6 | 5.1 | 8.5 | 42.8% | A- A- |
| 2022-23 | | 58 | 21.0 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 44.1% | A A |
| 2021-22 | | 65 | 22.0 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 41.0% | A A |
| 2020-21 | | 44 | 24.6 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 46.6% | A A |
| 2019-20 | | 68 | 34.3 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 44.4% | A+ A+ |
| 2018-19 | | 78 | 36.1 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 44.2% | A+ A+ |
| 2017-18 | | 72 | 30.4 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 44.9% | A+ A+ |
| 2016-17 | | 81 | 29.1 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 44.0% | A+ A+ |
| 2015-16 | | 82 | 29.0 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 43.9% | A A |
| 2014-15 | | 81 | 27.4 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 44.0% | A A |
| 2013-14 | | 73 | 25.4 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 45.6% | A A |
| 2012-13 | | 78 | 25.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 43.8% | A- A- |
| 2011-12 | | 62 | 16.8 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 49.1% | B B |
| 2010-11 | | 82 | 12.2 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 43.6% | C- C- |
| 2009-10 | | 76 | 9.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 40.3% | D+ D+ |
Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.
| Date | OPP | Result | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 5/26 | vs NYK | L 93-130 | 33 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2-8 | 0-6 | -19 |
| Sun, 5/24 | vs NYK | L 108-121 | 41 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8-15 | 1-7 | -8 |
| Fri, 5/22 | @ NYK | L 93-109 | 32 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6-15 | 3-7 | -22 |
| Wed, 5/20 | @ NYK | L 104-115 | 42 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5-16 | 1-8 | -6 |
| Mon, 5/18 | @ DET | W 125-94 | 36 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2-10 | 0-6 | +31 |
| Fri, 5/15 | vs DET | L 94-115 | 37 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6-13 | 3-8 | -5 |
| Thu, 5/14 | @ DET | W 117-113 | 43 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 8-21 | 3-10 | +11 |
| Tue, 5/12 | vs DET | W 112-103 | 37 | 24 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 5-14 | 5-9 | +9 |
| Sat, 5/9 | vs DET | W 116-109 | 40 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8-14 | 3-7 | +8 |
| Thu, 5/7 | @ DET | L 97-107 | 37 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3-13 | 0-4 | -15 |
Length
2 years
Total Value
$81.5M
Guaranteed
$81.8M
AAV
$39.2M/yr
Cap-table math on James Harden's contract works out to a B+ Contract Value Index given term and player option structure. At $39.2M AAV over two years, Harden's deal represents a calculated risk on a 36-year-old point guard—but the 2025-26 season stats (23.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 8.0 APG across 70 games) prove he's delivering All-NBA caliber production, legitimizing the investment. His A+ performance grade aligns with the media narrative of a savvy veteran whose basketball IQ and playmaking instincts remain elite; the 1,000th career start milestone and highlight-reel moments underscore durability at an age when most players in his tier are declining into depth roles. As a longtime veteran in his 17th season, Harden's contract reflects Cleveland's confidence that he elevates a legitimate contender rather than overpaying for name recognition—a distinction that separates a smart veteran signing from a sunk cost. The two-year structure also limits long-term cap exposure; if production tails, the deal doesn't anchor the franchise beyond the current window. Heading into the Finals in ten days, the CVI grade reflects a measured endorsement: Harden is earning his salary through elite play, but the age and contract length carry inherent risk that prevents a higher mark.
James Harden is playing at an elite level this season, earning an A+ Performance grade. Among NBA point guards, he's producing at an All-Star or All-NBA caliber. He's averaging 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists through 1221 games — carrying a significant offensive load. James's strongest area is APG at 8.0, which compares favorably to the point guard median of 4.0. The biggest area for growth is FG% at 43.4 (point guard median: 46.0). Among 93 NBA point guards graded this season, James ranks 5th. James is a cornerstone of the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster and is performing at a level that warrants his place among the league's best.
James Harden remains a respected veteran star delivering A-level performance at age 35. Media discusses his pivotal role solving Cleveland's frontcourt needs, indicating continued relevance. His 16-year pedigree and $40.9M contract reflect franchise confidence in his abilities. Headlines focus on lineup construction rather than performance criticism, showing positive regard. Elite production grade outweighs typical media negativity bias surrounding aging superstars.
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where James's contract sits relative to comparable money.
James Harden ranks 5th of 93 graded point guards by performance. That slots James between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (A+) just ahead and LaMelo Ball (A+) just behind.
Graded higher
Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City ThunderA+Tyrese MaxeyPhiladelphia SixersA+Cade CunninghamDetroit PistonsA+Graded lower
LaMelo BallCharlotte HornetsA+Jamal MurrayDenver NuggetsA+De'Aaron FoxSan Antonio SpursA+Peers ranked by Performance grade among players at the same position. Tap any name for their full profile.
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James Harden is a veteran in his 16th NBA season listed at PG for the Cleveland Cavaliers. FanVerdicts covers every NBA player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on James Harden, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index B+, Performance A+, Sentiment A+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NBA game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
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