USA Today via Reuters
Mar 1, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) shoots in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 1, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) shoots in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
James Harden is proving why he has been one of the best NBA players of this generation. While he put up historic scoring numbers with the Houston Rockets, he is now embracing his role as a more all-around player. The Nets’ style doesn’t make Harden take unlimited shots, instead he focuses a lot of his energy facilitating the ball.
With Kyrie Irving off the floor, Harden is the primary distributor and ball-handler. Even with Irving, Harden takes on this role. As a result, he is far and away the leading assist getter in the NBA. He got 25 points and 17 assists in the Nets’ win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the 17th time he has done this in his career.
READ MORE: Nets’ James Harden Surpasses Jason Kidd to Make Franchise Record with Incredible Stat
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James Harden recorded his 17th career game with 25 points and 15 assists, breaking a tie with Tim Hardaway for the 8th-most games all-time.
He also became the first player with at least 750 points and 300 assists in his first 30 games with a team in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/J6ScijR1ct
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 24, 2021
The way Harden plays and has been playing, he could notch a few more of these games this season. If the Nets are at full-strength and Harden has both Irving and Kevin Durant making the shots he creates, getting back to a stat-line like this won’t be a big problem. After all, Harden is also an automatic scorer. Possibly, one of the best the NBA has seen in scoring the ball.
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James Harden: Is he going to be the leader behind a Brooklyn championship?
James Harden has come into Brooklyn and taken the mantle of the on-court leader of this team. With Kevin Durant having injury troubles still plaguing him and Kyrie Irving being infrequent on the court, Harden has had to lead Brooklyn himself. However, he has done a great job in doing so.
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 15, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket against New York Knicks small forward Reggie Bullock (25) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Even when all three players have taken the floor together, Harden seems to be the most important. Kyrie and KD perform their own function while Harden seems to be the orchestrator. He has made the surrounding pieces in Brooklyn high-production role-players, helping the Nets occupy the top seed in the East right now.
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With the firepower of Durant, Irving, and Harden on the court, stopping this team in the playoffs will be a nightmare. James Harden could close in on his first title and he may be the one holding aloft the Finals MVP trophy when that is said and done.
