James Harden's beard evolution: Is his beard insured?

James Harden's beard evolution: Is his beard insured?

Lenah Ann
May 2, 2024 at 6:25 PM

James Harden is an American-based professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. Aside from making history as one of the greatest shooting guards and scorers in the NBA, he is also famous for his long beard, which he has grown for over a decade. James Harden's beard evolution has been a hot topic across various media platforms since most enthusiasts want to know its story and if it is insured.

James Harden's beard evolution
James Harden (L) warms up on 31 October 2022. On the right, he bites his beard in a match on 20 November 2019. Photo: AAron Ontiveroz, Scott Taetsch. (Modified by author) Source: Getty Images.
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

The renowned basketball player has played for various NBA clubs, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the 76ers. He has made history, bagging notable awards and trophies, including the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player award. Here is everything you need to know about James Harden, his beard evolution, and its worth.

James Harden's profile summary

Full name

James Edward Harden Jr.

Date of birth

26 August 1989

Age

34 (as of April 2024)

Place of birth

Los Angeles, California, the United States of America

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

Mixed

Height

6 feet 5 inches or 196 centimetres

Weight

220 pounds or 100 kilograms

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Dark brown

Parents

Monja Willis, James Harden Sr

Sibling(s)

Akili Roberson, Arnique Jelks

Education

Arizona State University

Occupation

Professional basketball player

NBA draft

1st round, 3rd overall pick, 2009

Active years

2009-present

Position

Shooting guard/point guard

Current team

Los Angeles Clippers

Net worth

$145 million

Social media presence

Instagram, X (Twitter)

James Harden's beard evolution

Over the years, the famous point guard's beard evolved into his signature look. According to Sporting News, Hardsen was fresh-faced when drafted into the NBA. Since then, he has had different looks, each accompanying a different style of play.

Top 5 facts about James Harden
Top 5 facts about James Harden. Photo: Scott Halleran. (Modified by author) Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

James showed no interest in growing his beard during childhood and high school. His high school coach, Scott Pera, told the Athletic about how he thought of his former student growing a beard in school.

"I saw the first follicle. No way he could have grown that in high school, not even close. I don't know if he had peach fuzz. He couldn’t grow it, no matter what he says."

Harden also shared his thoughts on growing a beard.

"I wasn't thinking about it. Most guys can't grow facial hair. For me, it's not hard."
James Harden of the Arizona State
James Harden of the Arizona State during a Pac-10 Tournament game against the USC Trojans on March 13, 2008, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Photo: Chris Williams
Source: Getty Images

As of May 2024, the talented shooting guard has played for five teams in the NBA. Here is a breakdown of his bead evolution from one team to another.

Oklahoma City Thunders (2009-2012)

During his years with the Thunders, he averaged 10 points in just over 20 minutes per game, and his beard matched his performance at the time, which was small with potential. Although he was overshadowed by legends such as Kevin Durant and Russell, he shot 39 per cent from three.

Guard James Harden
Guard James Harden (L) of the Arizona State Sun Devils smiles after beating the Arizona Wildcats 68-56 at the Staples Center on March 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Harry How
Source: Getty Images

Houston Rockets (2012-2021)

James Harden's beard was sensational during his years with the Rockets. Due to his performance, he dominated the league, playing 70 games and 68 in the finals. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, he averaged 30 plus points per game and thus bagged an MVP.

He had his last full season with Rocket in 2019 before joining the Brooklyn Nets in November 2020 to further his career. At his time, the story about his beard started taking shape in the basketball world.

James Harden
James Harden controls the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets on 8 December 2021. Photo: Carmen Mandato. Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Brooklyn Nets (2021-2022)

The basketball player was arguably the most outstanding star at the Nets. At this point, his beard had become his signature mark, and he made many comments about it.

Philadelphia 76ers (2022-2023)

After joining the 76ers, the famed point guard fell into a different role than his previous ones. He put up stats, but perhaps fewer than what fans hoped to see. On his debut, he posted 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 133-102 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

At this point, he had a high bar of cutting his beard. As per Basketball Network in 2022, he said,

Oh yeah, I would cut it. I mean, because it's going to grow right back. Yeah, $10 million minimum is where I am like, 'alright.'

Los Angeles Clippers (2023-present)

Recently, James Harden's beard looks more manicured than it did while he was with the Brooklyn Nets. He debuted with the Clippers on 6 November 2023, posting 17 points and 6 assists in 31 minutes in a match against the New York Knicks.

James Harden signature beard
With his signature beard, James Harden of the LA Clippers stands for the national anthem on 2 April 2024. Photo: Ezra Shaw. Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

How much is James Harden's beard worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the renowned point guard's net worth is approximately $145 million as of April 2024. He made most of his fortune through brand endorsements, sponsorship deals, and club salaries. Grandstand Central reported that Harden needed $10 million to cut off his beard.

The guard also disclosed that he would cut it for charity. So, is James Harden's beard insured? With these figures, his beard insurance policy will likely be worth more than a million dollars.

How long is James Harden's beard?

At his peak, the renowned basketball player would have facial hair of at least six inches under his chin, as revealed by the US Blog. That does not cover its thickness since there's no precise way to determine it.

James Harden's beard routine

Ever wonder how the renowned NBA legend maintains his facial hair? Steemit revealed some secrets of how Harden's beards grow effortlessly and naturally.

  • Trimming it frequently
  • Using shampoo frequently
  • Applying beard cream at night
  • Combing it to the direction you want it to go
  • Using a cream instead of oil in warmer months

James Harden's biography

The Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (age 34 as of April 2024) was born on 26 August 1989 in Los Angeles, California, the United States of America, to Monja Willis and James Harden Sr. He was raised alongside his two siblings, Akili Roberson and Arnique Jelks.

Frequently asked questions

Many have likened the NBA player's facial hair to Steph Curry's mouthguard or Anthony Davis' unibrow. Although it has looked different over the years, it has remained constant since he made his debut. Here are the frequently asked questions about James Harden's beard.

James Harden
James Harden stands on the court during their game against the Sacramento Kings on 2 April 2024. Photo: Ezra Shaw. Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

What made James Harden grow a beard?

The Los Angeles Clippers point guard's brother once claimed that the NBA legend started growing his beard to compete with him. As per talkSport, he said,

To be truthful, I think he started growing a beard because he saw mine coming in, and he got hair on his face.

Did James Harden have a beard in college?

The renowned NBA star did not have his current signature look during college. He was spotted clean-shaven and fresh-faced. Even though he occasionally had a fuzz, he did not have the whole facial hair that would eventually define his appearance.

Is James Harden on Instagram?

The renowned NBA player is a famous personality across various social media platforms. As of April 2024, he has over 12 million followers on Instagram and over 7.7 million on X (Twitter).

Final word

James Hardin's beard evolution has successfully capitalized on his branding. Given that the players in the league rarely grow theirs to that length. It remains iconic and is part of his brand signature. If he decides to shave it, it would mean trouble to the brands he represents.

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Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.