James Harden
He moved to the Houston Rockets beginning the 2012-2013 season and had his best years there, becoming a Regular Season MVP, having multiple All-Star appearances, All-NBA selections, scoring titles, and an assist title. In 2021, the Brooklyn Nets acquired James Harden.
Playing Style
James Harden stands at 6’5” and is one of the most prolific and isolation scorers in the history of the league with his patented step-back three.
James Harden Logo
What Shoe Size Does James Harden Wear?
According to Sporcle.com, James Harden wears a size 14.
History of James Harden Signature Shoes
Harden actually wore Nikes from his high school up until two seasons into his run with the Houston Rockets. People were already getting excited about a possible “Nike Harden” since he got his own PE versions of the shoe and even had his own logo to match.
But, in the summer of 2015, Adidas offered a 13-year, $200 million deal to James and Nike wasn’t willing to match that. He signed with the three-striped brand and has been wearing their sneakers since then. The Harden Vol. 1 first hit stores in 2016.
| Shoe | Release Date | Retail Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adidas Harden Volume 1 | Dec 2016 | $139.99 |
| Adidas Harden Vol. 2 | Feb 2018 | $139.99 |
| Adidas Harden Vol. 3 | Oct 2018 | $139.99 |
| Adidas Harden Vol. 4 | Oct 2019 | $129.99 |
| Adidas Harden Stepback | Jan 2020 | $79.99 |
| Adidas Harden Vol. 5 | Jan 2021 | $129.99 |
| Adidas Harden Stepback 2 | Jan 2021 | $79.99 |
Characteristics of Harden Sneakers:
All of James Harden’s sneakers have been low tops. This seems to be ideal for The Beard since he does make a lot of shifty moves and step-backs. Freedom of movement and mobility have been top on the priority list.
Boost was the weapon of choice from the Vol. 1 up until the Vol. 3. The first version had a thinner slice of the cushion and it was heavily caged with about only ¾ of the medial side exposed. The Vol. 2 saw the thickest slab of Boost in the Harden line and maybe even in Adidas basketball. This time, only the forefoot was caged and it offered crazy impact protection. With the third iteration, Boost was thinned out again and nothing was caged except for part of the forefoot.
The Vol. 4 stepped away from Boost and went with full-length Bounce, which is no slouch. The fifth release in the Harden series saw the first combination of two Adidas cushioning: Boost and Lightstrike. The former was made to be a drop-in midsole with a torsional web bar for stability while the latter was the carrier.
Materials have been consistent for The Beard’s signature line. Ever since its dawn, we have seen a combination of knits and synthetic leathers or fuse for high wear areas. This ensured that the shoe didn’t feel bulky and conformed to one’s foot but also was durable enough to at least last a season
As for price, the Hardens have always been within the $130-160 range, which is a good deal considering the amount of technology that comes with a pair.
James Harden’s signature shoes haven’t really seen that “wow” factor with the colorways. Although they have released some really fire ones, like the Vol. 4 “Pride” and the Vol. 1 “Black Ops,” nothing has really been iconic and jaw-dropping.
The Adidas Harden Stepback, calling out to his signature move, is James’s budget model and usually offers full-length, firmer Bounce with cheap-feeling synthetics.
The Best James Harden Shoes by Rating:
| # | Shoe | Rating | # of reviews | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adidas Harden Vol. 3 | 9 | 8 | Oct 2018 |
| 2 | Adidas Harden Vol. 4 | 8.8 | 7 | Oct 2019 |
| 3 | Adidas Harden Vol. 2 | 8.6 | 8 | Feb 2018 |
| 4 | Adidas Harden Volume 1 | 8.3 | 8 | Dec 2016 |
| 5 | Adidas Harden Stepback 2 | 8.3 | 2 | Jan 2021 |
| 6 | Adidas Harden Stepback | 8 | 2 | Jan 2020 |
| 7 | Adidas Harden Vol. 5 | 6.9 | 4 | Jan 2021 |
Special Collaborations
Harden Vol. 1 “MVP”
