In what is truly an iconic tale to tell, Drake once revealed how he saw James Harden at a hotel bar the night before an NBA matchup with Toronto Raptors. Harden was ‘drinking virgin Mai Tais‘ and ‘crushing mint tea leaves with his hands‘, according to the Canadian rapper.

Notably, Harden used to play for the Houston Rockets back then. In fact, he won the league MVP award that very season in 2018. But in hindsight, this incident certainly has James Harden written all over it.

In recent years, Harden has made more headlines for his activities off the court than on it. Many even claim the steady decline in his game for the past few seasons is due to the same.

His escapades outside the court have provided abundant material for frequent media banter. So it is fair to say that this story by Drake dating back to 2017 certainly anticipated Harden’s future to an extent.

James Harden’s jersey in a Houston gentleman’s club

It is not rare to see NBA and NFL athletes in gentlemen’s clubs. Especially if you’re Harden, who is known for his flamboyant lifestyle and habits. However, the frequency of his visits has certainly alarmed many.

As a matter of fact, James Harden allegedly has his jersey hanging from the rafters in a gentleman’s club in Houston; a simple tribute for his exorbitant spending at the establishment.

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And Drake’s story only adds up to Harden, his lifestyle choices outside the court have impacted his game significantly. Hence, there’s an ever-growing concern among fans regarding his dedication and love for the sport.

James Harden in Brooklyn and Philly

The intense scrutiny of Harden’s habits started when he showed up out of shape to games, allegedly, to force a trade to the Brooklyn Nets. Harden’s addition to the Nets made them instant championship favorites and a legitimate ‘superteam’. But the crafty point guard suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, which affected his game massively.

The 2018 MVP never really recovered properly from his injury. After getting traded to the 76ers, Harden has not looked like his former self. He averaged only 18.3 points in this year’s playoffs, leading to some experts calling him ‘washed’ after Philly’s exit in the Conference semifinals against Miami.

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32-year-old Harden has certainly looked far from his best on the court in recent times. He’s no longer as agile and swift in his moves as before, blitzing and driving past defenders. Can he come back stronger in the next season?