James Harden, the bearded dynamo guard for the Houston Rockets, signed a four-year extension with his team Saturday that will earn him a total of $228 million over the next six years. Do you think Khloé Kardashian has hit him up with that “Hey big head” message yet? Because I know I did.
According to NBA.com, this is the richest contract in NBA history, and it will “keep Harden in a Rockets uniform long enough for The Beard to grow down to his ankles.”
The deal, as ESPN details it, would start in the 2019-2020 season and pay Harden $37.8 million, $40.8 million, $43.8 million and $46.8 million over four years, respectively. Combined with what he is already earning, that brings the total to about $228 million over the next six years.
That’s a lot of dollars, and Harden’s performance has more than earned it for him. He is the first player to get 2,000 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in one season, and he has given 56.2 points per game between his own shots and passes.
With the addition of Chris Paul to the roster, it appears that the Rockets are looking to build a super team, and with rumors of Carmelo Anthony making the move to Houston, they just might get it.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told NBA.com that his philosophy right now is to “Get more USA Basketball team members.”
Morey also said that chasing the champion Golden State Warriors is now a “weapons race,” and if their pending roster for the 2017-2018 season is any indication, they are coming into the game with both barrels fully loaded.
It will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out, but in the meantime, what are your top five suggestions for how I should spend our money when James Harden and I get married?