During a series in which his superstar status was constantly questioned, James Harden certainly dressed like an elite player after the Houston Rockets' Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harden finished an up-and-down series, in which he recorded a triple-double in Game 5 before being benched for the fourth quarter of Game 6, with a strong 31-point, eight-assist effort Sunday. After the game Harden met with reporters while wearing a $1,385 shirt.
James Harden Podium Game: Wears $1,385 shirt to Game 7 postgame (H/T @heatherzeller) pic.twitter.com/LICSAhwBrN
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 17, 2015
Runway to the @NBA. James Harden sporting some Alexander McQueen today: #NBAStyle #Rockets http://t.co/nkIGKJjOnu pic.twitter.com/pmmcFzkgqG
— Heather Zeller (@HeatherZeller) May 17, 2015
The oversize shirt is designed by Alexander McQueen and available online. Judging by the reactions of people on Twitter, it doesn't appear as though Harden's endorsement of the shirt led to many sales.
Left swipe. https://t.co/ncpFVVhVcO
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) May 18, 2015
He paid $1,380 too much for it. RT @darrenrovell: James Harden Podium Game: Wears $1,385 shirt to Game 7 postgame pic.twitter.com/DdcZGGMRzv
— Dixon Tam (@DixonTam) May 17, 2015
That shirt is the scam of century RT "@darrenrovell: James Harden Podium Game: Wears $1,385 shirt to Game 7 postgame pic.twitter.com/WYLh2enjAg"
— Brad Burke (@BradIdeas) May 18, 2015
Did James Harden tear apart an original Air Jordan Nike and make a shirt out of it? #postgame
— Rusty Olson (@Rusty_Olson) May 18, 2015
Proof $ can’t buy style RT @darrenrovell: James Harden Podium Game: Wears $1,385 shirt to Game 7 postgame pic.twitter.com/HtnNGNsZBK
— Mr. Swift (@ELGINDOTCOM) May 18, 2015
Harden is no strange to expensive, abstract shirts. In March he wore this colorful number:
James Harden's shirt looks like what happens when your little cousin draws on the walls.
#rockets pic.twitter.com/Cge7YHwqT8
— NBA On Def Pen (@NBAOnDefPen) March 15, 2015
Harden earned $14.7 million in salary in 2014-15, so he can afford to drop thousands of dollars on an entire closet full of abstract shirts.
Despite a rough Game 6 in which he went 5-for-20, Harden is still having a strong postseason. Only Anthony Davis (31.5) and Steph Curry (28.2) are averaging more points in the playoffs than Harden (26.7). The Rockets will need Harden to keep up his strong play if Houston is to have any chance to upset top-ranked Golden State in the Western Conference Finals.