Editing James Harden (section)

=== Playoff Heartbreak and Continued Excellence ===
Despite his MVP season, Harden's playoff runs with the Rockets were often marked by disappointment. The team fell short of winning a championship during his time in Houston, with their most painful defeat coming in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, when they lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games. Despite being up 3-2 in the series, the Rockets ultimately fell short, largely due to injuries to Chris Paul and a shooting slump in Game 7.

Harden continued to lead the Rockets deep into the playoffs year after year, but they were often thwarted by the Warriors, who were a dominant force during the 2010s. Nonetheless, Harden's legacy as an offensive juggernaut was solidified, and his influence on the game, particularly his ability to draw fouls and control the tempo of the game, began to shape the way the NBA was played.