James Harden of the NBA’s Houston Rockets was in town this weekend for the official launch of adidas ‘Republic of Sports’ campaign in Guangzhou.
Harden, who has been with the Rockets since the 2012-13 NBA season, is recognized as one of the league’s most productive scorers and was ranked at the beginning of the 2015-16 season as the NBA’s top shooting guard.
During his time with the Rockets, Harden has received five All-Star nods as well as being honored with the inaugural NBA Player’s Association MVP Award back in 2015. He also received gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and 2014 FIBA World Cup.
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For those unfamiliar with 'the world of hoops,' Harden may be most notable for his trademark facial hair, with his beard appearing on clothing and earning him the moniker ‘Fear the Beard.’ (Click here for an awesome photo timeline of Harden’s facial hair, from peach fuzz to Duck Dynasty-worthy beard.)
As the most notable player on the Rocket’s current roster, Harden’s promotional appearance in Guangzhou makes sense, considering the team’s undisputed appeal to Chinese fans.
The Rockets have been referred to as “China’s team” due predominantly to Yao Ming’s productive tenure in Houston, in which the team made it to the postseason four times, including a playoff series win in 2009 – the team’s first in over a decade. Yao was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Scroll down for some fearsome shots of ‘the beard’ in Guangzhou:
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[Images via Tristin Zhang, @jharden13 on Instagram, adidas]
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