Скачать или смотреть I Traveled to China with James Harden for a Week (We Became Friends)

I never expected a trip to China with James Harden would change everything.

When I boarded that 20-hour flight, I had three simple goals: try authentic Chinese food, play basketball with one of the NBA's biggest stars, and make a genuine friend. What I got was so much more than I bargained for.

The chaos started immediately. Picture this: James Harden walking into a traditional martial arts studio, picking up nunchucks for the first time, and trying to look cool in front of the masters. Then came the fan encounters – and I mean THOUSANDS of screaming fans mobbing us everywhere we went. The energy was absolutely insane.

But the real highlight? Getting exclusive access to the secret factory where James's unreleased signature shoes are manufactured. We're talking about sneakers that won't hit shelves for months, maybe years. The behind-the-scenes look at how these kicks are made was mind-blowing.

We also took a trip down memory lane and recreated a viral video I filmed of James eight years ago. Seeing how much has changed since then, yet how some things stay the same, was pretty surreal.

Going into this trip, I was worried I'd fail at making that friend I was hoping for. Turns out, I was looking in the wrong places. The friendship I made was with James himself – the Beard became the homie.

This week in China was pure madness, unforgettable moments, and a reminder that sometimes the best connections happen when you least expect them.