Through the first 11 games of his career, Harden averaged just 5.8 points and shot just 33.3 percent from the field. His assist-to-turnover ratio for the whole of his rookie season was nearly 1:1. From the team leader to the sixth man, the role adjustment made Harden difficult to accept, and even doubted that he could adapt to the NBA game.

At key moments, Durant and Westbrook gave him support. Perhaps because they are not much older than Harden, Harden's rookie season is not as often bullied as other rookies, but everywhere to be taken care of by two big brothers. In the future, when the three were their own masters, Westbrook and Durant had been unhappy, but Harden has always respected the two.

"I'd be willing to come off the bench for this team forever."

Returning to form, Harden has gradually become the main scorer on the Thunder bench. In 2011-12, Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and was voted Sixth Man of the Year by a landslide. Thunder three less all the way to the finals, shocked the league.

In the battle of Tianwang Mountain in the Western Conference finals, Harden played the peak of the Thunder career. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. In Game 5, the Thunder played away from home, leading the Spurs by only two points in the final 50 seconds.

In the final moment, the Thunder arranged a three-point tactic for Durant, but the Spurs defense was watertight and destroyed Durant's shot opportunity. Harden, who had the ball, saw that there was little time left, facing Leonard's strict defense, and shot a backward step jumper outside the three-point line. The goal ended any hopes of a Spurs comeback. Harden, who finished with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists, had a rare courtside interview with Durant.

"Kawhi plays great defense, but I also have a lot of confidence in my shot." Harden said excitedly to the camera.

Three, the taste of abandonment

In 2012, the Thunder three lost the finals together selected the Dream 10 team, representing the United States to the top in London. At that time, Durant bluntly said that training with James, it is difficult not to think of those sad defeats. But that offseason, the most sad person was far from Durant.

In late October, Harden received a contract extension offer from the Thunder: five years and $42 million. This is far from the maximum salary Harden wanted, but it is certain that Harden had no second thoughts at the time, just wanted to stay in the Thunder.

Because before that, he voluntarily gave up the opportunity to be in the starting lineup. A promising sixth man of the year, an Olympic champion, willing to stay on the bench at an age when his team's chemistry should be surging, in order to preserve it. Harden's attachment to the Thunder, let him forget the "this is just business" creed.

Harden didn't turn down the Thunder, but neither did he nod directly: "That's probably the biggest money I'll ever make in my life. I need time to think about it."

But Thunder general manager Sam Presti gave Harden only an hour to think about it. After not hearing back from Harden, management quickly traded him to the Rockets.

"That very night, I got a call and they told me, 'We love you, but we traded you to Houston.'" It was such a sad night, I lay in bed and started crying..."

On the surface, Harden was traded because he did not accept the extension invitation of management, but the operation of the team before and after the contact can be seen that the Thunder was already ready to give up Harden.

The Thunder had already sent Ibaka a four-year, $48 million contract extension in August of that year. Everyone knows the small-town Thunder can't keep four talented stars. Between Ibaka and Harden, the Thunder already had a choice.

Ibaka was chosen because the Thunder needed a more balanced lineup inside and outside. And give up Harden, it is because the Thunder believe that although he has potential, but in any case can not reach the realm of Durant and Westbrook...

To this day, Harden is difficult to let go of the Thunder's approach: "There were a lot of things waiting for the three of us to complete, but now, everything has broken..."

The Rockets, of course, have the Thunder to thank for letting go. Before acquiring him, the Rockets had missed the playoffs three years in a row. And Harden's arrival, let this traditional strong team quickly out of the post-Yao Ming era haze...

And Harden is riding high personally. In his first year with the Rockets, he made the All-NBA first team. The following year, he was second in the MVP voting behind James.

The third big ups and downs of life, let Harden fulfill the promise in the note...

New journey

After missing out on MVP again, Harden welcomed another master passer in Paul. In contrast to the sensual antics of two years ago and the hard work of a year ago, Harden and Paul spent that summer together, busy with street racing and charity.

A year later, he was named MVP, went through the baptism of the Western Conference with Paul, and became the best chance on the planet to take on the Warriors.

But this story is far from over...

"My mom was a strong woman, and I inherited that from her..."