Kobe Was Right About James Harden But The NBA Ignored It

James Harden is an NBA MVP that can’t win a championship, and Kobe knew it first #nba ✅ Check out PrizePicks: bit.ly/PrizePicksMJ2K Promo Code: MJ2K
With James Harden, there’s a dichotomy. A game winner or a flopper. He dropped 45 points in Game 1, then made 5 shots in the next two games combined, then hit the game winner and 42 points in Game 4. And in Game 7, he had 9 points, 6 turnovers, and a lot of time on the ground. It was so bad that Stephen A. Smith said that Harden should shave his beard. And trust me, no one wants that.
The shift was dramatic. And it seems like every game, the perception of Harden changes. And now Harden’s “serious” about returning to the Rockets? But one thing has remained nearly constant. Harden’s inconsistency. What do I mean by inconsistency? The way Harden plays is set up for failure that we’ve seen over and over again. And unless he makes a conscious choice to change, Harden is going to have one of those great careers that was self-sabotaged by something that a lot of people are struggling with right now, but to understand, we’re going to need to look at Harden’s history in the playoffs of exactly what Kobe said. He was the main guy and over the years, even as the offense would be designed around him and became one of the best players in the world, there was a dark secret holding him back.
So the question at this point is obvious. Why isn’t Harden consistent in the playoffs when he’s a star in the regular season? What immediately comes to mind is free throws. As Harden started to get more and more of the ball, he began to draw more and more fouls in some ridiculous ways. Don’t hate the player hate the game. Yet in the playoffs, softer fouls don’t get called and defenses key in. And there is a slight decrease in Harden’s free throws, from 10.6 attempts between 2015-19 to only 8.6 in the playoffs. You could say that a lack of certail calls prevents Harden from becoming consistent, prevents him from getting into rhythm. After all, Harden has made more free throws than field goals. But that doesn’t explain what happened in 2017.
The rockets faced the Spurs in round 2. The series was tied 2-2 and the Rockets lost a tough game where Harden had a 33 point triple double. A game 7 looked inevitable after Kawhi and Tony parker sat for game 6 in Houston. And Harden scored 10 points on 2 for 11 shooting…Instead of forcing game 7 it was 61-42 Spurs at the half and ended up being a 39 point loss. But it wasn’t that Harden wasn’t getting calls. In fact, from tip-off Harden just looked out of it. He wasn’t aggressive, he was passing out of shots like what is this? Apparently he ran out of gas, that’s what his coach said which is weird. It was clear that Harden was the reason they lost.
You might look at Harden averaging 10+ assists and believe that he’s a great playmaker and he is creating a lot of shots for his teammates, but they are more catch and shoot opportunities. Rather, when you watch the games, you realize that the Harden offense means that his teammates don’t get their own rhythm either. It’s the movement component that Kobe talks about. But even Harden’s own teammates have fought him over it.
In 2019, Harden averaged an insane 36.1 points a game, and even with Durant going down with an injury, the healthy Rockets couldn’t put away the Warriors in Game 5 or Game 6 at home despite Harden averaging over 30 in those two games.
In 2020, Harden would demand a trade from the Rockets but the Rockets were in no hurry to trade him so Harden showed up to training camp out of shape. And I mean really out of shape, pillsbury doughboy lookin ass.
But as soon as he wanted out once he was done with Kyrie Irving, he demanded a trade and again got out of shape.
*A lack of accountability and immediate gratification.*
Even in the midst of Harden’s historic scoring seasons, Kobe said he wouldn’t be able to win with that style and that’s still correct. The great scoring guards knew when to get their teammates involved. They didn’t pass for the assist, they passed to get other offensive sets running. But don’t take my words for it, take the great Kobe Bryant:
Harden wants the basketball freedom to be himself. So the excuse actually is that he wasn’t playing his style when they lost? But when you’ve had one of the highest usages in NBA history, we’ve seen your style James for about 4 years and unfortunately, it doesn’t work to win a championship. You don’t stats, you just need to watch the games.
*We gotta hold ourselves accountable.* It can’t always be someone else’s fault. Sure 2018 didn’t fall your way, but 2019 did. Work on yourself to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.

[@MJ2KALLDAY]

Was in the hyperbolic time chamber learning to make better videos so GET READY! ✅Check out PrizePicks: bit.ly/PrizePicksMJ2K Promo Code: MJ2K

[@MARSMamba]

I couldn't put a comment for some reason KZbin trippin. But I can reply, I was gonna comment; "Yo that harden shave his beard edit had me Rollin 😂😂😂😂

[@bogartpif]

Κevin Martin was a legit baller ...facts

[@radioactive1014]

​@@MARSMamba 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@ThriveAliveJoshua]

One game

[@Gmoney-yo2ly]

You ever do something well subconsciously but when you think "hey I'm actually doing it" you start to mess up... that's harden

[@georgelinstin3161]

Pretty much breathing

[@dru55the1egend]

That’s me pretty much all the time. Even sleeping like hey I’m getting a great sleep then I wake up.

[@Gmoney-yo2ly]

@@dru55the1egend that's me when I'm giving my self an elite haircut/shape up

[@p3pp3ro.62]

Lmfaoaoo this comment is elite 😂😂 that's def harden

[@bigbossv6663]

Your comment is just perfect hahah.

[@timstar28]

I'm a 6er fan, and I was talking to a Houston fan before the playoffs, and he said Harden is only good for 2 games a series, and boy was be right lol I'll never forget that.

[@malcolmcowdry1282]

Yeah but he won those games, not much else happened for you that series.

[@hsny76h4l9]

​@@malcolmcowdry1282 But that is not enough.I could see if he was good for 5/7 games in a series but only 2 games ,that is terrible 😔 and he wants a 4 year extension.... please.

[@martinaguilar1508]

Harden is past prime. Sixer fans need to worry bout why Embiid keeps disappearing in clutch moments✌️

[@MacNif]

Prime Har_en was still a choker

[@mrskinszszs]

I remember telling you this

[@uchgamerx]

Bruh when Kobe says something about basketball, it's like Jesus preaching gospel. He knew the game inside out.

[@arizonaFIREent]

Man kobe fans would literally sniff kobe's underwear

[@uchgamerx]

@Arizona Fire Ent you're one weird mofo. Kobe was a great ball player just like MJ, Bron and any other legend. They know more ball than us regular folks.

[@Polotongquitz]

He even predicted that Jokic can be MVP. The man was straight up basketball prophet.

[@uchgamerx]

@@Polotongquitz facts, you're absolutely right

[@gannibalof21st]

@@arizonaFIREent yet OP didn't say anything that cannot be substantiated with references and sources. Thus, your comment is a reactionary bs all in your feelings projecting your hate. We can all guess who's your favorite player.

[@Hamlet-wp2ri]

Man I miss Kobe, I so wish he was still with us. RIP Kobe 8/24

[@thebronxnorthphilly9578]

I agreed with Kobe only killers know

[@damienrowley443]

Miss Kobe. What a tragedy. He had so much wisdom and creativity in him to provide, if only we had the opportunity to see what that would’ve looked like.

[@cumshot247]

Gone way too soon... RIP Kobe!

[@lessssssgooooo]

Yall talk like he was your friend he didnt knew you existed 🫵🫵🫵

[@daviddaj7418]

@@lessssssgoooooif you’re not from LA you won’t understand. Kobe was our king. We didn’t have to personally know him cause In a way, it felt like he knew all of us.

[@matthewgabbana5021]

Kobe was damn near right about everything he said about players 😂.

[@ramon4184]

But of course. He's one of the greatest ever

[@dAbaPEsTA123]

Imo he got a lot of basketball iq from Phil Jackson

[@bamf6603]

Can you give me alink to his podcasts

[@Samurai31631]

@@dAbaPEsTA123 Phil Jackson was a fraud imo. He had Jordan/Pippen and Shaq/Kobe. There’s a reason he refused to coach the Knicks (he would get exposed).

[@turner1291]

@@Samurai31631fraud isn’t the word for it. Fraud is if he didn’t deliver what he promised which he undisputedly did with 11 championships. He might’ve just gotten lucky having his first coaching gig at Chicago but that’s not his fault. Why coach a bad team either if you already have won it all 11 times

[@deepeyton]

Remember when everybody was mad at Kobe for saying that

[@Themikelawry]

This video makes no sense since Harden didn’t play iso ball this year and still didn’t win …..

[@hahahahaflyer]

I wasn’t lots of people knew Kobe was right. Harden even chocked that year in the playoffs that proved kobes point even more

[@scootaymildo1070]

​@@Themikelawry i think the point of the vid is more about him trying to move to Houston so he can be "the guy" again but that probably won't work as it hasn't before.

[@_M....]

only dummies and children would be mad over that.

[@_M....]

@@Themikelawry it made perfect sense. Harden unfortunately is older and his little tricks to bait fouls aren't serving him, he was NEVER a top scorer without foul baiting. and he was never worth a damn on defense. this year he played alongside another foul baiting, season great but playoff choker in Joel Embiid who just won apity mvp award because he kept cryin over it.

[@khonsux5240]

If Kobe or Jordan says it, you can pretty much bank on it. They were the most extreme competitors and and students of the game to every really play.

[@xaviervega468]

Jordan actually sucks at evaluating talent. He drafted Kwame Brown #1. Kobe was actually much better in that regard.

[@otismichael2583]

Kobe maybe, but not jordan. Sucks at evaluating talent.

[@khonsux5240]

Jordan sucks at building teams. But what I was really him breaking down the game, or individual, Kobe learned a lot from Jordan.

[@grega3611]

@@khonsux5240No Jordan is absolutely garbage at evaluating talent. It’s why nobody ever asks him to break down the strengths and weaknesses in player matchups. He said himself he could never coach.

[@JB-tz8fu]

​@grega3611 He said he could never coach because "to ask todays generation of kids to give the passion & focus I gave to the game would be unfair & be alot to ask of them"

[@imtiozzy8103]

Watching this makes me appreciate Steph's game more than ever

[@kyesong4604]

Istg if we had a allstar mvp big man that can shoot 3s an grab rebounds over AD we would nvr lose

[@garytheman1129]

NO POSTER DUNK

[@kurosan0079]

​@@kyesong4604 Imagine Curry and Jokic in the same team.

[@imtiozzy8103]

@@kyesong4604 they were fine till the lakers figured them out, don't leave Steph and leave the rest open

[@Nik-up5pd]

@@garytheman1129 casual opinion smh

[@chrilpy]

Him and Embiid have a bad habit of trying to draw fouls instead of making their shots. Unfortunately for them, they get way less calls in the playoffs where refs allow more physicality and less flopping

[@RekkaMakks]

This is so true. Took my brothers to watch the wizards play them two days after Christmas last year, embiid and James were doing exactly what you said all game, to the point they lost to a wizards team with no Bradley beal

[@_M....]

yep, they foul bait to pad stats in the regular season. come payoff time their terrible habits are honed in on and the foul baiting doesn't work.

[@JamesHardenoverKobe]

Harden actually reads the book. Yet people want to call Harden tactic flopping. A real flopper looks for calls even when they don't have the ball. So it's funny to see people flop on the defensive end of the game and call Harden a flopper. Keep it real Jordan used the same tactic as Harden yet he wasn't called a flopper for that reason.LeBron is a real flopper who will dive on both ends of the floor even when hit by his own teammates

[@YouScareMe1]

Harden's fta practically doesn't change from regular season to playoffs. Why you idiots still spread that bs is beyond me.

[@RawEntry]

@@JamesHardenoverKobebecause he’s a dirty player they literally had to change a rule because that’s all he can do is abuse the game to score 😂

[@MARSMamba]

Now i can comment lol weird. Yo that Harden shave his beard edit had me 💀☠️💀☠️😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Grinders713]

I’m a Rockets fan, but if we double back and get harden at this point.I’m done✌🏾

[@android4022]

AMEN BROTHER !!!!

[@tyork7229]

Exactly.

[@Grinders713]

Jalen Brown and whoever he wants to bring and I know damn well harden is not on the list 🤔😂😂😂😂😂🤷🏾‍♂️

[@king-ghost1027]

All he gonna do is jack up 12 3s a game again and make a maximum of 4

[@Grinders713]

@@king-ghost1027 😂😂😂facts

[@napiernygma8075]

all great players had bad offensive games during playoffs the difference they know how to stay relevant in the game defense, ball movement , positioning , running the floor ...etc james harden got none of that unfortunately

[@facilitatinghappiness]

He went to Vegas in the middle of the playoff series this year. That tells me everything. NOT FOCUSED on anyone but himself.

[@michaeltamares7974]

@@LarryKeys-yd1po umm. Not in middle of playoffs..dude....u dismissed..or i dismiss u

[@cumshot247]

@@michaeltamares7974 Don't mind him, he's a bit slow...

[@dahhmlife]

That tells me he's focused on making some money off losing some games on purpose.

[@thetruth4654]

I mean Harden carried the 76ers too two wins. Meanwhile the worst MVP of all time Embiid was a no way player(terrible at both offense and defense)

[@JaysPlayDays]

Har_en shot them out of multiple games as well. both were horrible

[@hardybryan]

He was 13 for 63 from the field the other 5 games combined.

[@tobiakinwumi6311]

You forget embiid struggled with an injury

[@scottishwolf2439]

@@tobiakinwumi6311 Bros always struggling with an injury 💀

[@tobiakinwumi6311]

@@scottishwolf2439 True, but you can't expect him to perform the way he did during the regular season when he gets injured in the playoffs and expect him to magically heal in the playoffs.

[@akshayaramaswamy1270]

I said it then, and I’ll say it again, this man is so inconsistent and overrated. *cries for sixers*

[@ctcards2636]

Im shocked anyone thinks he can be a piece to a championship team. Not seeing it. 76ers need to let him walk if they want to win one.

[@batkinson1981]

I've been saying that Harden was overrated for years he always disappears in the big games

[@blackdynamite7177]

​@@batkinson1981 how je was named to the NBA top 75 still blows my mind. Dude is a bum!

[@thewatcher9539]

If anyone ever watched Roy Jones Jr commentate a boxing match you notice immediately that he sees things well before other commentators do and usually well before the boxers in the ring or their trainers did.... This is the feeling I get whenever Kobe commented on anyone... His talent and basketball IQ allow him to see things that regular commentators, other players, coaches or fans miss easily.. When some people talk the world should just go quite and listen for a minute...

[@Exia09]

I'm not even a Kobe fan. But man do i miss him. It was like the world went bonkers after he died, with Covid and all that nonsense that followed. He was one of the last OGs. A star with killer mentality. Who'd rather tear your heart out and show it to ya mum than team up with you. He was Jordan-lite in a post MJ era. The closest thing that came to his Airness. He was a student of the game, not an accolade-chasing ring-collecting load-managing brat. He wanted to beat you at your best, not team up and beat the rest. He understood and appreciated fans. He'd play even on a broken foot cos he knew every night there'd be at least one fan who got to see him play live for only that night. He wasn't the most athletic but he made the most of his skills and ability, and then some. He made u believe in hard work and enhancing your talent instead of resting on your laurels. He was intense, aloof, but he was the real deal. A dawg. We miss u Kobe. Peace.

[@EverydayWithBobby]

My mom says that all the time. Shit went downhill FAST after he and Gianna’s passing. Probably a sign

[@user-hu5hc9zm1u]

He'll be playing over seas with Dwight Howard very soon

[@Jon1LAW]

D12 about to be in the league and they ass bout to be in Taiwan 😂

[@manz7860]

Dwight Howard become nigh unstoppable since embracing the meme side of the force.

[@freshnaproductions2105]

James Harden and Dillion Brooks. Don't forget Dillion Brooks.

[@Tranquille92]

😂😂… might help him… you it’s a lot more team ball over there 🤷🏽‍♂️👍🏽

[@Tranquille92]

You know **

[@geraldinegrice8506]

Kobe was speaking facts back then, and it still holds truth today. 6/8/2023

[@TheNorthie]

It makes you appreciate how open Curry gets his teammates.

[@Brian_Williams5298]

The warriors have great off ball movement, Kyle korver, Reggie Miller, ray Allen, Steph curry, Tracy mcgrady, jj Reddick, always moved without the ball n that helps get them in rhythm to shoot, oh yea Rip Hamilton did it too.

[@daniell5740]

Warriors also figured out how to cover currys terrible defense

[@TheNorthie]

@@daniell5740 his defense is ok, I don’t expect him to be the Gary Payton on the defensive end. He can keep up with fast players and knows when to switch. And he actually tries on defense, something I can’t say about a lot of players out there.

[@dii1314]

@@Brian_Williams5298 Rip was elite at moving without the ball, and his mid range was killer

[@AMGTT]

Guess Kobe was right it makes sense two harden is the most predictable player playing that way it’s dribble 3 or dribble drive.

[@SolaceMcfly]

Thats his problem his offense is so boring and predictable, like most things it will work occasionally but will fail the majority of the time.

[@MrMikelew2929]

Great video with some real life advice at the end💯

[@sinatra222]

Kobe was James Harden before James Harden. Extremely inconsistent player who could carry his team or destroy it on any given night.

[@mistermann3225]

This. His legacy is overated because of his death. He was top 10 all time. Coming in at Number 10....

[@sinatra222]

@@mistermann3225 He's borderline top-15 for me.

[@mistermann3225]

@@sinatra222 🤣🤣 dude, it took you *a month* to respond?! Your girlfriend must hate you... (also, glad someone agrees w me on Kobe. People get emotional when you just want to talk hoops...)

[@azrielnguyen9586]

Harden has always been a gimmick scorer, proven now with how much the rule change affects him. Also he could not handle being in NJ due to Kyrie's abuse. Kyrie would just shit on him at every single practice.

[@diyonisis7790]

James Harden's biggest problem is his lack of conditioning. this is why his production always falls off the deeper he gets into the playoffs, because he spends more time partying than training, he can't handle playing multiple games spaced close together

[@KC-lg8qf]

As a sixers fan I never wanted him

[@kdsburner5066]

If he didn't play y'all prolly would've gotten swept

[@countbless3360]

Jame Harden is built to be a really good 6th Player.

[@hajime2k]

Harden thinks he's as good as Lebron. In reality, he's about as clutch as Westbrick. Playing Iverson's "ME ME ME" ball is outdated.

[@Amigofix]

Ray Allen over James harden anyday

[@aidanstanley4606]

Wild take💀

[@aidanstanley4606]

Harden>iverson

[@orangejuice20133]

Dumb take

[@TheOfficialSlyBandit]

^ joke of a take.. A.I > Harden ALL DAY LONG

[@aidanstanley4606]

@@TheOfficialSlyBandit how they’re the same player except ones a better scorer and playmaker

[@enanebres6481]

Love this content

[@tyork7229]

It's so disappointing to hear people in this city (Houston) say they want him back... 😔 What a 💩.

[@glopesci]

Excellent vid

[@ThatLampTho]

Can't wait for the finals. I need to narrow down my choices on where who bandwagon to 😆

[@jaxsonbateman]

You can't be a 'solo star' in 2023 NBA. Incidentally, I think the Nuggets @ Lakers game highlighted that today - Jamal Murray went on an absolute tear in the first half, scoring 30 points. Schroder was then tasked with just shutting him down. No other major objective, just stick to Murray like glue. You'd say it worked to turn the game into a 4v4 - but the thing is, if Murray were the 'solo star' of the Nuggets, they probably would've been cooked - the reason they still won is because they have another star, plus other high level players. The issue with the Sixers has been that both Embiid and Harden are pretty inconsistent in playoff games, as well as Doc Rivers not really having much in the way of coaching chops IMO (his whole career has basically been coasting off that Celtics chip that was more about talent than coaching). Even with multiple stars you need some consistency, but if you were a solo star it'd be a nightmare expecting non-stars to play above average in any game where you get locked down tight.

[@SEANIEHSHINE]

That was never a debate 🤷🏿‍♂️ just blasphemous talk for a short period of time

[@Willow-mo]

Respect to Kobe 🙏rip Kobe and He’s right about James harden but also on Embiid

[@KC-lg8qf]

Maybe ebiid suffers from playing with harden. He needs real PG

[@timstar28]

He was right about Ben simmons too lol Kobe would of been a great coach today man..

[@markarmage3776]

This is just sick, that's not what Kobe said, you toxic degenerate. The Kobe interview regarding the 40 point streak had nothing to do with James Harden. What Kobe said about Harden is not about Harden the player, but about Harden solo playing style in the 2018-19 season when 4 out of the 5 Rockets starters were injured and they were 15th in the West, that such a style won't work in the playoffs but he has to do it because his team is injured and won't be in the playoffs if they keep losing. In that same interview, here's what Kobe also said " But now what he (James Harden) is doing is ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE and I think it's a testament to how remarkable it is that people are now trying to minimize what it is that he's doing. HE'S DOING SOME PHENOMENAL STUFF " Sickos like you twisted the word a deceased respectable human being for cheap views and likes. Disgusting.

[@cokechang]

@@timstar28 or GM, he’d probably be too rough for today’s young players as a coach.

[@gannibalof21st]

@@timstar28 there's no way he wants to coach of majority AAU players. If it was more international players then I can see that possibility.

[@GSIron]

Whoever edited this video did a fantastic job

[@ankitacharya975]

harden’s biggest problem is unwillingness to improve on bad aspects of his game.he needs to be humble and listen to coaches and teammates.

[@BYABTheApex]

BRUH IM DEAD AT THE BEARD ANIMATION 😂😂😂☠️☠️☠️ bro! Stop😂😂😂

[@zetsutsuletsu2034]

One Game. Good vid

[@jasongts]

In about half of the background clips you used, James Harden was either making incredible shots or missing them badly. That inconsistency with each play perfectly encapsulates Harden’s game.

[@MentallyUnhappy]

Ok I'm not buggin. He posted this yesterday right ? 😂😂

[@manz7860]

Got flagged. Has happened to a ton of his videos.

[@randykubick]

We need a vid on +/- on NBA superstars. There are several current NBA stars with big negative +/- stat.

[@jammies701]

Nice vid

[@ottorodrigues163]

Nice quality video

[@darthvedder365]

I feel so sorry for this guy, so proud of himself. perhaps this is the after-effect of the elbow to the back of his head courtesy of mett world peace.

[@allanhee]

I felt that Harden was a choker back in 2012 when he played so poorly in the Finals against the Heat

[@acemiller101]

We marvel at the amazing scoring year that was 2018 for James Harden, forgetting the fact that he not only manipulated several of the NBA rules to help him get those amazing numbers, he also did it in a year that the NBA was lookin for a new protagonist, having grown weary of the Golden State nostalgia. If he was as prolific as the sports world made him out to be, then his dominance would've continued as it clearly didn't.

[@ITz_RUINED]

That’s a fire ass rock lee shirt my g 😂🔥

[@serbonkers4130]

How can you be an all time great if you get benched for a whole quarter 🤣

[@justinmunson1412]

Must be that great work ethic he learns at Arizona State

[@pauljoseph3081]

Harden wants D'Antoni so that he'll retire winning scoring records. That's his ticket to HOF, coz he's not winning a ring, not in this lifetime. #Facts

[@darkorlightz]

he's already a hall of famer if he retired today

[@KaliweteKid]

He's a choke artist in the playoffs but he's already a guaranteed future hall of famer. He led the league multiple times in scoring and assists. Very few accomplished that.

[@maxine8761]

@@darkorlightz a HOF without a championship and no fmvp WOW .

[@darkorlightz]

@@maxine8761 charles barkley not a hall of famer? or karl malone? how about AI?

[@ctb_aj999]

He is a first ballot HOF alreadt

[@GotGame007]

I said this a lot about Harden, and even Trae Young. They were playing exploit not basketball. They knew how to manipulate the rules to their advantage causing the defense to not be able to play them effectively without getting in foul trouble. Then the rules changed and they haven’t been the same since🤷🏾‍♂️

[@dAbaPEsTA123]

Real life version of 2k players with the meta

[@TheLostOne156]

hmm i just thought of something while watching the harden plays in the background . what if the recent spike in injuries is because players are doing this weird landing (lay) on floor when they shoot?

[@mcronn1002]

Wow you articulated harden’s basketball 🏀 career very well. Thank you for making this video. The free throw topic is on point and relevant now. But to me Harden is a mystery. No cap

[@dreskee8422]

Chalk him up as a reputable hyped role player (Just like he was in OKC) and run him as a decoy for more efficient talent. It’s evident that Harden needs someone he can hide behind but still is allowed to handle the ball. He’s a great fit for New York. A team that has already established itself as a playoff contender but historically has struggled with scoring. I wouldn’t be upset if he went to Boston where they could use him or bench him dependent upon his play. But at this point in his career he’s just a great scorer that can come off the bench and add a fire to a decent to strong second unit. If he or his agent are smart they try to get him on another contender and not a team where he can score 60 points in a losing effort every game day like Kevin Durant is about to begin doing.😎

[@DakBetterThanYourFavoriteQB444]

Product of the era he played in. He’s a decent shooter but apart from that I don’t understand the appeal. I can’t wrap my head around why people think he is a top 5 SG of all time. I can’t wrap my head around how or why people believe he is a better offensive player than Kobe or Jordan: he has two ways to score; draw fouls and chuck threes. Just goes to show how little people actually know. Harden is overrated as hell.

[@dreskee8422]

@@DakBetterThanYourFavoriteQB444 I don’t consider his era at fault for his laziness. He has proven himself to be an off season sloth and his defensive perimeter effort doesn’t involve his lower abdominal muscles……EVER! The era is shoot the three and most of his highlights include just that but I’ll give him credit….he does surprise me when he drives successfully and either dunks or assist for a higher percentage shot. But ultimately, he, Westbrook, and Durant were meant to remain in OKC from day 1 where they would’ve had a short lived two or three ring dynasty by now. It beats the rings KD won with Golden State and adds to their legacy by having their own stake. If it weren’t for personality differences, Oklahoma would’ve been a big surprise for everyone to see in consecutive Finals.😎

[@DakBetterThanYourFavoriteQB444]

@@dreskee8422 I agree. He is a very lazy player. I am a fan of defense. It’s not impressive scoring 30+ a game but have no defensive presence like Harden. A truly great offensive player too me is able to also defend the opposing teams best player night after night and still drop 30,40,50 and 60 on them, and they can score from anywhere, anytime no matter how great the defense is like Jordan and Kobe for example; putting Harden on their level offensively is just so damn disrespectful.

[@dreskee8422]

@@DakBetterThanYourFavoriteQB444 30 points a game has become cliche’. With the scoring becoming so accessible due to little contact I’m certain that these 30 or 40 point games aren’t that exciting unless a player is doing it out of necessity like the Kobe 81 point game. This era is weird……they’ve actually made scoring points so often become a boring occurrence. I’m awaiting the next defensive built team like the 2004 Pistons. That dominated a league and made everyone play the sport defensively for a more interesting outcome. On average the ending score would be about 10-11 points under 100.😎

[@DakBetterThanYourFavoriteQB444]

@@dreskee8422 Facts! It’s extremely boring. When I watch games in this era I am so frustrated by the lack of defense. Some players do play both ends but they are rare. 3 ball isn’t exciting anymore, I miss the mid range game and defense. 2000-2010 was the best defensive decade of all time; 2004 Pistons being the face of the decade in terms of defensive dominance, I would also put the Duncan led Spurs in the mix as well due to their consistency… even though the 2000s had the worst pacing and spacing of any era had fewer possessions per game, 3 pointers and free throw attempts per game than this era does it still produced some of the greatest scorers the NBA has ever seen. Not to mention big men like Wallace, Duncan, Garnett, Yao and even Kirilenko who are better defensively than 98 percent of players today. That decade was the most exciting to watch in my opinion. I would love if the NBA got back to that style of basketball.

[@kuakilyissombroguwi]

Harden softer than a mfer.

[@Tony2Times1]

Facts!!

[@Jay_Guap]

Accountability our society’s kryptonite lately lol good vid G

[@encoded3906]

He should have a full blood lab and ct scan done... This level of inconsistency points to something wrong with his nerves.

[@elvinjones3333]

Banger

[@messityler4121]

plus the change on foul rules hurt his game a lot

[@aubienraton]

All because of Metta's elbow

[@Eddybaby01]

He’s been doing this in the post season since OKC

[@chytstorm]

Title: The Evolution of James Harden to James Hardhead

[@Paul_425]

Harden is still traumatized by Artests elbow in the 2012 playoffs. Thunder was a young team back then, Harden was doing well that game so much so that Artest elbowed him in the head. Now come playoff time Harden gets elbow flashbacks cause inconsistencies in his game come playoff time.

[@jazzick8309]

2 Mvps on one team can't even make it to the conference finals.

[@Nularius79]

When you have the heart of a champion, you have the heart of a champion. If you don't have it, you don't. That's what separates champs from non-champs. It's more than just stats.

[@arseniyfaria7317]

Can someone tell me what's the end song please?

[@gohanrei]

One game, baby!

[@jthomas4632]

🎯💯🎯💯🙌🏿🙌🏿

[@lavoeco3885]

He would discover his game, the night life , and…..Lil baby 😅😅😅😅

[@htfanai3447]

What he need to do is stop partying so much and focus only his game... 🤣

[@masterball2928]

As he ages, he looks like kimbo slice...

[@nintendoconvert4045]

Can’t blame Harden for anything in Brooklyn. That was ALL Kyrie. Anyone in Harden’s position would feel the same way he did.

[@Chop_69]

Yall just now noticing this? I been saying this shit since his first couple of years in Houston

[@broderickhennington5336]

Harden plays basketball like an OF model lives life

[@judegerald2245]

Feels like a waste. And also one game

[@Paul-he2wc]

James Harden is like Paul George in the playoffs

[@thebipolarpsychonaut4984]

With that "dichotomy of stats" being so on off I'd be wondering about a gambling problem.

[@youngwoodah424]

So true

[@ronhargrove1176]

James Harden will be walking around looking like a beaver without he’s beard

[@capricehollis1372]

What's da background music?????

[@trainerrob1622]

Everyone who really knew the league knew this. Its not a revelation. He`s 6'4, not an elite athlete and at his best could not physically take a basket when needed. There`s only been two guys in the history of the league who were under 6'9 and not elite athletes lead their team to chips as a #1 Isiah and Steph... Luka is in the same mold and is on the same path right now. Luka has a chance to turn it around because of his physical size but he`s going to have to get to a point where he simply has something to go too. He has a kill zone he can get too, a kill move he can get to, walk you to a spot and get the shot he wants. When you watched Harden in his prime and Luka now. They can get 60 but the 60 looks hard. Every basket they get in the half court, they worked for it. They spent energy getting the bucket. Lebron just two dribbles to a spot, Kawhi just two dribbles to a spot, KD just two dribbles to a spot. Jordan, Kobe they just two dribbles to a spot...

[@juse7990]

Why did ibaka shove Bosh in the back like that

[@baller45]

Lol he style of basketball lets get fouled😂😂he went dwnfall was when the fouls got changed how they were called😂😂

[@hrodebrt]

Harden was unable to realize what many stars before him did, your personal numbers will go down when your team starts winning more. Perfect example is the GOAT, as soon as MJ realised his scoring alone wasn't gonna get him a chip it was game over for the league.

[@skalawitz]

I remember one guy said harden is better than DWade.. 😂

[@LeMJ623]

This really aged well

[@samuraitabernac3050]

I can’t believe I used to watch espn when stuff like this was available free

[@egglordsasuke8532]

Why is Tmac talking? He never made it out of the first round. The best team Harden has ever had was CP3 and a bunch of role players, and they were beating the best team of all time, until CP3 got injured. Kobe also used Iso a ton, but Harden could never shoot 30% and win because his team held the other team to 85 points.

[@mlmf2012]

Wasnt his best team the nets with durant and kyrie in those years? They were 3 superstars in their prime years. I still find it hard to believe they didnt win even 1 ring with that team

[@sakshamdwivedi4273]

@@mlmf2012 cause of kyrie's delusional mindset and kd injured and even then supporting kyrie caused the team to break up they onoy played 16 games together fucking 16!! and won 13 of them

[@Nuthinnull]

Harden isn’t close to tmac skill wise. Better raw numbers from playing extremely ball dominant , pick and roll spamming, 5 out basketball. That’s why he’s so inconsistent. Wade tmac and Kobe would win multiple championships with the spacing and talent harden had on his teams…harden might be the most fraud star player ever.

[@zoraplays1009]

That was Kobe tryna light the fire harden needs. In reality it made him Worse

[@Mrfurg10]

They technically got the same production out of Martin.

[@Michael-H23]

He literally said what i have been saying for yrs now lmao

[@g.west2372]

In this day and age, i don't understand why players get and want a 5 year deal, when they say byebye, as soon as it's getting tough... A: not playing (although healthy) -> no money. B: Players who force their way out of a team shouldn't be allowed to sign anything over 3 years for the rest of their carrier. C: Forcing a team to trade you should lower the maximum available percentage for the next contract.

[@brokensoul8390]

Harden forgot that he isn't Hakeem Olajuwon

[@mainygnac]

the way both Harden & Westbrook fell off the year they were named in the NBA's75greatestEver was crazy

[@CitcHK]

Finally some true analytics 😂

[@BezmenovWasRight]

Damn, you cooked that Kobe video until the very end LOL.

[@NaesNivrae]

Feel bad for the young guys on the Rockets 🤣🤣