James Harden’s recent form for the Rockets has earned him comparisons with the likes of NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.
For 20 games running, the 29-year-old has logged at least 30 points in each game, scored 40 or more nine times and broken the 50-point barrier three times.
Harden says as great as his scoring feat has been of late, his ultimate goal is to be mentioned among the game’s all-time greats.
“Kobe [Bryant] and Wilt and Jordan – now we’re talking about the elites of the game – the greatest to ever touch a basketball,” Harden told the Houston Chronicle.
“It’s honourable to be up there with those names. Honest, I have a long way to go. I’m not even close to what they accomplished in their careers.
“But it’s pretty cool to be in that conversation and almost there. But I have a lot of work to do.
“That’s one of the reasons you play the game of basketball: to be, when it’s all said and done, mentioned as one of the greats, the greatest that ever dribbled a basketball, whether it’s Wilt, whether it’s Jordan, and the list goes on.
“Obviously, you want to win championships and want the individual accomplishments, but every day (when) I’m in the gym and work on moves, I think about that.
“When I’m done, whenever that is, I want my name up there with them. It’s a good place to be in.”
His current form on the court is a far cry from just a few years ago, whilst he was in a relationship with reality TV icon Khloe Kardashian.
The pair dated in 2015, which Harden now describes as the “worst year” of his life, according to Sports Illustrated.
Speaking to the publication at the time, the NBA star explains why he had to end the relationship.
He said: “I didn’t like all the attention. I feel like it was for no reason.
“I wasn’t getting anything out of it except my name out there and my face out there, and I don’t need that – it wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t me.”
He added: “I don’t need pictures of myself when I’m driving my car. Who cares? What shoes am I wearing? Who cares? Where am I eating? Who cares?
“It was unnecessary stuff that I think trickled down to my teammates. I had to eliminate that.”
Who is James Harden dating now?
Harden was reported to be in a relationship with R&B singer Ashanti last year.
However, MTO News claim that the couple have since parted ways and the NBA icon is now seeing an Arab Instagram model by the name of ‘Arab Money’.
She has been spotted at a Houston game on at least one occasion but neither party have confirmed the rumours.