In 2021, James Harden finally got his wish. He was brought in by the Brooklyn Nets from the Houston Rockets. Harden’s pairing with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving provided him the best chance of ever winning a ring.
Harden made headlines around the time by appearing to gain weight. With the strip clubs and the affluent lifestyle, it was natural for Harden to appear larger. Astonishingly, James Harden appeared to be a different man now that he had landed in Brooklyn.

While Harden appeared to be getting along well with the Nets, there was one lingering concern that had yet to be answered. How did James Harden get rid of all that extra weight before joining the Nets? Compare the last photo taken of Harden in a Rockets uniform to the first photo shoot he performed as a Nets player. This was exactly what pointed fingers at Harden.
James Harden before his last game as a Rocket vs James Harden before his first game as a Net pic.twitter.com/mdo5Ds3RRS
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) January 16, 2021
The two images displayed side by side are noticeably different. It’s clear that the NBA 2018 MVP didn’t drop 20 pounds in less than a week. The only explanation for the disparity is that he could be wearing a fat suit or just a lot of padding with the Rockets that he didn’t wear in the first session with the Nets.
Did James Harden wear a fat suit to reduce his trade value?
A lot of theories and speculations were made around James Harden magically losing weight. One popular theory holds that Harden purposefully wore a fat suit during his final games with the Rockets in order to reduce his trade value.
A popular YouTuber reviews different hypotheses behind James Harden’s weight difference. The YouTuber speculates that Harden may have been wearing a fat suit during his final few games in Houston. Harden may have been attempting to purposely lower his trade value by carrying the fat suit.

Another argument compares the procedures used by UFC competitors to lose weight before big fights. It is usual for UFC athletes to lose a significant amount of weight in the days leading up to a fight. While rumors continue to exist, it is critical to proceed with caution until definitive proof arises. The most logical explanation for all this is that he could be wearing a lot of padding rather than a fat suit or losing a significant amount of weight in just a matter of days.
While rumors continue to exist, it is critical to proceed with caution until definitive proof arises. Only James Harden knows the exact story behind his physical metamorphosis, and speculation will continue to swirl until he provides clarity. Did James Harden really trick us all? Is it even feasible for a man to pretend to be overweight? Nonetheless, I find the whole thing very mysterious.
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