where is james harden from

James Harden, the NBA star known as "The Beard," hails from the Los Angeles area in California. He was born in Los Angeles and largely raised in Compton by his mother, Monja Willis.

Birthplace Details

Sources consistently pinpoint Harden's birth on August 26, 1989, in Los Angeles, California. Some references specify Compton as the key neighborhood where he grew up, amid a challenging environment that shaped his early life.

He attended Artesia High School in nearby Lakewood, California, leading the team to back-to-back state championships as a junior and senior.

Early Life Highlights

• Born to Monja Willis and James Harden Sr., who was largely absent; Harden credits his mom as his biggest influence.

• Initially played baseball around age 10 before switching to basketball in the Watts district.

• Grew up with two older half-siblings through his father.

"Harden was born in Los Angeles to Monja Willis and James Harden, Sr., but was largely raised by his mother. The family...lived in Compton, California."

High School Roots

From Lakewood's Artesia High, Harden averaged nearly 19 points per game in his final two seasons, earning McDonald's All-American honors. This Southern California foundation propelled him to Arizona State University and a stellar NBA career with teams like the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, 76ers, and now Clippers.

No recent forum buzz or trending news shifts this origin story—it's a stable fact from his bio.

TL;DR : James Harden is from Los Angeles/Compton, California, via Artesia High in Lakewood.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.