OKC Thunder fans follow The Beard

“Mine's legit,” he said. “It's homegrown.”

Nothing fake or foam here. The Oklahoma City resident has a beard that even the Thunder super sub could appreciate. It's full and thick and bushy.

And there's never been a better time to be part of the Harden Hysteria. Two weeks ago, he propelled the Thunder to a first-round sweep against the Mavs. Last week, he won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award. And Monday night, he was cheered like never before at The Peake.

Ron Artest and his elbow are in town for the playoffs. While the Laker enforcer was vilified during Game 1 for the elbow he tried to implant in the side of Harden's head a few weeks ago, Harden was celebrated with signs and T-shirts and, yes, even fake beards.

As loud as people booed Artest, they cheered Harden even louder.

Janssen added his voice to the chorus.

“It was so loud and so awesome,” he said.

Janssen has been a Harden fan since Day 1, and he admits it was the bushy beard that first caught his eye. That's because Janssen has always had facial hair of his own. Even back when he was in high school at Putnam City West, he was forever the guy growing a goatee or a mustache or a beard.

“The mustache was usually for jokes and giggles,” he said. “But I grew my goatee out pretty long.”

Whatever style he picks, Janssen has always been able to grow out his hair quickly. He doesn't have the patchy spots. He doesn't endure the scraggly bits. He's been blessed with fabulous facial follicles.