HOUSTON – Houston Rockets guard James Harden was named today by the NBA as Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Mar. 3 through Sunday, Mar. 9. It marks the fifth such honor of his career (Player of the Week: 10/30/12-11/4/12, 12/31/12-1/6/13 and 3/18/13-3/24/13) and his second time in as many weeks (2/24/14-3/2/14 and 3/3/14-3/9/14). Harden becomes the first player in Rockets history to win Player of the Week in consecutive weeks within a single season. Tracy McGrady earned this honor for the final week of the 2006-07 campaign and was the first winner of Western Conference Player of the Week for the 2007-08 season.
Harden (6-5, 220, Arizona State) averaged 30.3 (.532, 42-79 FG; .452, 14-31 3FG), 6.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.50 steals in leading Houston to a 4-0 week with home wins over the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers. He started the week with 21 points (9-15 FG) and a game-high 11 assists in a 106-103 win vs. Miami (3/4/14). Harden then netted 25 of his 31 points in the second half of a 101-89 comeback victory at Orlando (3/5/14). He added 28 points (10-17 FG) and three thefts in a resounding 112-86 win vs. Indiana (3/7/14). He capped his week off with 41 points (12-28 FG, 10-11 FT), 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals in a 118-113 OT win vs. Portland (3/9/14), which included matching his career high in 3-pointers made (7-12 3FG). Harden joined Michael Jordan as the only two players since 1985-86 to record a game with at least 41 points, 10 boards, six assists and six steals. He also nailed a 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds left in regulation to even the game at 106-106 and force OT with the Blazers.