James Harden may have taken Baron’s title as King of the NBA Beard, but he will never top that.

On Sunday, he did try, however. And while he came up short, James Harden basically stole the soul of JJ Hickson — even nailing the post-dunk reaction as you can see below.

For this, Mr. Harden is honored with a Great Moment in Facial Hair History.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

There aren’t all that many of us.

There’s me, there’s Cody Ross, there’s Ricky Rozay,  there’s Kevin Youkilis, there’s (pretty much) Kimbo Slice, there’s (that one time) Bruce Willis, and there is, of course, the late, great Isaac Hayes — the godfather of Team Bald With a Beard. Rest in peace, fine sir.

Now … there is also Vince Carter.

Welcome aboard.

Now try not to let down the team — for once.* (image via Doc Funk)

* I have actually defended Mr. Vinsanity against what I deemed overly harsh criticism for years. Then he missed those free throws last year in the Playoffs. So sorry, Vince, you’re on your own vs. the lions now. I’m done.

But under the following circumstances, as you can see below, we do need to make an exception. Watch the video and it will be pretty clear why. If you watch Trey with the trimmer, it’s like Fyodor Dostoyevsky, ya know what I’m saying. The poetry of it.

So congratulations to Trey Kerby aka “Brad Miller” aka “Yert” aka “Not Al” for induction into Great Moments history. And just imagine how good the unabridged version is gonna be when it arrives in theaters everywhere this fall? Hopefully in 3D.

Let’s do this, Jimmy Cameron.

But wait … there’s more.

Get this — the beard comes along with a free Deron Williams Texturizer Kit. Shop now or forever look like a lady. (via Ball Don’t Lie)

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

The following photo and message came our way via @HawksPRman prior to the Hawks victory over the Rockets last night:

Before you’re shocked tonight, Hawks head coach Mike Woodson is minus his eyebrows tonight…don’t ask me why…LOL!

Why does he have no eyebrows? Lost a bet? NFL playoffs-related possibly? I have no idea. And at press time*, neither does anyone else.

Says Lang Whitaker of SLAM:

OK, been texted folk and nobody seems to know the deal w/ Woody’s eyebrows. The mystery deepens…

Perhaps we’ll never find out.

This blog doesn’t use paper. What I mean is “bench press” time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to lift weights. Lots of em. Really heavy ones. Call me, ladies.

When asked for his comment on becoming inaugurated into Great Moment history, Boom Diz first just stared at me with a cold, steady gaze before looking over at his shoulder at his girlfriend for approval and then turning back to me slowly to say “This is Sparta.”

(Image via @Jose3030, who is someone you really need to be following on game nights as he constantly pulls amazing photos and videos during NBA games)

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

Now, we can add one more name to that list.

Well, maybe not a name. But the fist-pumping, chest hair-flaunting, gold shark tooth-wearing, full beard-rocking hombre from 1995 who shows up 19 seconds into the below video has now officially been acknowledged for his unending contributions to humankind with this Great Moment in time.

Bonus: He’s probably not even dead yet.

(Bonus #2: GP’s spinning behind-the-back dish to Shawn Kemp is one of my favorite passes ever. Video via NBA Playoffs 2009 Tumblr)

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

Moral of the story: Win some, lose some.

Therefore, this Great Moment is dedicated to the man we in the NBA Twitterverse have affectionately begun calling Fish Sticks. And, yes, by “we” I mean “me.”

And in mildly related Bulls news, this is my favorite cartoon thus far from the Garbage Time-All Stars.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless—boys and women—and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

See, the only thing that makes Philly even remotely worth watching is monitoring the ascension to greatness by my boy Young Thad. But since even that doesn’t really merit watching more than 10 minutes at a time and Reggie Evans only plays 13 mpg, our paths rarely cross in the night.

But when I saw the notorious junk aficionado himself sitting on the bench with such finely groomed chin treasure, it was indeed a Great Moment for the ages. So for those of you who thought there was only one reason to watch another Philly game this year, I’m here to tell you, nay, there is a second: Reginald Jamaal Evans’ beard.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless -- boys and women -- and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

As we’ve previously seen, Marko has a pretty good life. And as we can see now, he has a gd amazing mustache. Well done, sir. On both the moustache-growing front and the not sexually assaulting anyone front. Each is commendable work.

But given the gravity of the how great this might become, I’m gonna go ahead and name a pre-occurrence Great Moment for the following, which unfathomably has the possibility to displace the time someone convinced Rik Smits to shave his bulbous, albino dome as the best Pacers team-bonding idea since the franchise left the ABA. (via Dime)

Mike Dunleavy was able to convince most of his teammates to grow mustaches.

The players involved have until practice Thursday to have their mustaches or to have their beards shaved. [Ed note: that sentence is confusing, but the implication is "shave the rest of your beard by Thursday or we'll shave it for ya."] I’m not sure what the consequence is for those who don’t fulfill their end of the deal.

“I’ve never had just a mustache before,” said Troy Murphy, who’s one of the players that has to shave off the rest of his facial hair before Thursday. “I may use some Maybelline and color it in so that it can be nice and dark.”

Foster’s mustache has already grown in. All he needs to do is grow his hair out, put on a skin-tight t-shirt and some tight blue jeans to look like he’s back in the 70′s. Foster, too, said he’s never had a mustache before.

Regardless of whether or not the Indy roster is transformed into the cast of Super Troopers before their next game, Mike Dunleavy, Jr., you are a prince of Maine, a king of New England.

This calls for his theme song.

I honestly can’t think of another instance in which that sentiment rings true, but today on this here January 15, 2009, it will forever be etched in stone that Brian Skinner, for at least one Great Moment in time, is not a complete embarrassment to the beard-wearing community.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

(Photo via Sports Hernia)

Had this Great Moment occurred back in the days of the Pilgrims, surely hemisphere-wide genocide would have been averted.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

And since I can’t say it any better than they, here’s Bend It Like Bennett’s words:

PJ Carlesimo is an honorable bearded-American and should be remembered as such. That’s why I took the liberty of crafting a more appropriate tribute video for PJ’s 13-game OKC journey. Many a treasured memory from the man Adrian Wojnarowski will fondly remember as an “unrepentent screamer.”

Come back soon, Peej.

UPDATE: Great Mustaches of the NBA.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

Congratulations, Greg, on your first of what we hope are many Great Moments in Facial Hair History.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

“By the way, I won the beard contest with Drew Gooden. He cuts his. I need my money, too, Drew.”

Drew has not been deterred, however, and has come back with a vengeance. And this commitment, dedication and desire to look like a fool has inaugurated him into Great Moments history.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

Much worse than intentionally fouling a 50% free-throw shooter, however, this time Pop has trimmed the tremendous, Rip Van Winkle beard he had been sporting in recent months.

For shame, Coach.

Yet, the effort and commitment shown to such growth prior to its inexplicable and unwarranted shortening was commendable nonetheless and he is still rocking a shorter version, thus, his inauguration into “Great Moments.”

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

“I got a few stitches in my chin and the doctor said don’t shave for a few days, so I didn’t shave for about 10 years.”

A true American hero.

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying