A Youtube channel named JimmerRange breaks down possible theories about James Harden and his weight swing.
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James Harden seems like he has now fit in pretty well with the Brooklyn Nets. In the five games he has played with the Nets, they have gone 3-2. He has not been putting up his usual mammoth points, but partially that is because his scoring load is divided here. Harden has been averaging 23.6 points and 12 rebounds per game in the 5 games.
While Harden seems to be getting along well with the Nets, there is one question that isn’t dying down. How did James Harden shed all his excess weight before joining the Rockets? For your reference, compare the last picture taken of Harden in a Rockets outfit, and the first photo shoot he did as a Nets player.
These two pics were taken just a few days apart.
Did James Harden wear a fat suit to reduce his trade value?
James Harden’s visibly bulging midsection prompted a number of fan theories. One of these was that he may have been wearing a fat suit in his final game as a Rockets player.
The YouTuber surmises that Harden might have been wearing a fat-suit through his last few games in Houston. By wearing the fat suit, Harden may have been trying to deliberately reduce his trade value.
Another theory is that he might have shed the weight as UFC fighters do. The UFC fighters are known to shed anywhere from 5-25 pounds few days before a big fight. Harden may have used those tricks and could have shed his weight post the trade.
The entire collection of theories can be checked out here:
The most prudent explanation is simply that Harden may have been wearing extra padding. This was the simple explanation for Carmelo Anthony looking out of shape for a couple of years. Melo’s visibly slimmed down now, but the padding made him look in worse shape than he was earlier.
Whatever the case may have been, Harden seems happy in Brooklyn. That is all that should matter.
