“James Harden is a big-game, late-game choke artist of the highest order.” These were Skip Bayless’ harsh words when talking about ‘playoffs’ James Harden. Well, he’s not the only one who thinks that of The Beard. But they do have Kawhi Leonard, who has some playoff success finally made his highly anticipated season debut for the LA Clippers on Saturday night, facing off against the Atlanta Hawks at the Intuit Dome. Right out of the gate, Leonard found his rhythm, draining a three-pointer just minutes into the first quarter.

Looks like James Harden will have some help this time if they make the playoffs. That has not been the case in the past. We all remember the 2017-18 MVP walking off to the locker room after tearing his hamstring against the Milwaukee Bucks when he used to suit for the Nets. Or Harden’s unforgettable disaster in the 2015 West Finals. In Game 5, he managed just made 2 of 11 shots while racking up 12 turnovers—a playoff record nobody wants their name attached to.

Now a certain someone also delivered a subtle dig at the 10x NBA All-Star. WWE Star, The Miz, was in attendance against the Hawks tonight. When asked who’d be a WWE star from the Clippers roster, he brought his signature blend of humor and bluntness to the conversation, delivering a playful jab at James Harden. The wrestler unhesitatingly responded. “James Harden—just not in the playoffs season,” The Miz quipped, drawing laughter from the set.

“Regular season James Harden is definitely a WWE superstar. The whole brand is there,” he further added.

But it is true, that James Harden has failed to rise to the big occasion almost every single time.

James Harden’s failed postseason conquests

The list is long. Let’s begin with Harden’s dreadful Game 7 against a Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs squad in 2017. Harden shot just 2-of-11, turned the ball over six times, and watched his Rockets lose by 39 points. That was only the beginning. Then comes the Rockets’ infamous collapse against the Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, Harden’s struggles with the Nets against the Bucks in 2021, and his brutal 7-of-27 combined shooting in Games 6 and 7 against the Celtics in 2023.

The numbers don’t lie.

Over 24 elimination games, Harden has averaged 22.5 points, shooting just 41.7% from the field and 31.5% from deep. A 9-15 record in those games doesn’t exactly scream “Mr. Clutch,” does it? Even his nine-point showing in Philly’s Game 7 loss to Boston in 2022-23 added to the embarrassing narrative.

What’s wild is that Harden’s regular-season resume is Hall of Fame-worthy. Ten All-Star nods, an MVP award, three scoring titles—he’s a stat machine! But when the stakes rise, his game seems to shrink.

Last postseason, he had another chance to change the narrative. Instead, he dropped 7 points in Game 5 and 16 in Game 6 before the Clippers’ first-round exit against the Mavericks. If you’re still holding out hope for Harden in crunch time, even the most loyal fans might say, “That’s on you.” At this point, it’s hard not to agree with Bayless: Harden’s playoff struggles are impossible to ignore.