‘James Harden isn’t the same player he was’: Nets guard Bruce Brown speaks up about Harden’s fall in efficiency since joining Brooklyn

Bruce Brown believes newly acquired Nets star James Harden has been too passive with the ball in the past few games for the team.

Earlier this past month, one of the most blockbuster four-team trade went down, sending 2018 MVP James Harden to team up with All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at the Brooklyn Nets. The team immediately became a favorite to win the championship this year.

Harden has to make a few sacrifices if he wishes to win the championship he has been chasing for so long. One of the biggest hits he has taken is the decline in ball dominance. He has been sharing the court alongside two prolific scorers in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Brooklyn Nets’ guard Bruce Brown stated that Harden has been ‘too passive’ since his arrival in Brooklyn. Bruce also suggested to Harden, to seek his own shot more frequently.

Bruce Brown said he thinks James Harden’s been too passive at times during his Nets tenure. Has told Harden to seek his shot more during games.

— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 26, 2021

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Also Read: James Harden opens up about his reduced role alongside Nets’ Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant: “It’s a different experience, but it’s still great”

‘After 8 years of dominating the ball, this is a different experience’: James Harden

Harden’s usage rate has declined massively. It was a 36.3 in 2019-2020, and now has fallen drastically to a 25.1 with the Nets. But Harden is finding different ways to be effective for the team. With his 12 points and 11 assists performance against Miami, he became the first player in Nets history to record a points-assists double-double in five straight games since Deron Williams back in 2010-2011.

It is still early in the season. The Nets have ample time to figure stuff out and experiment. The team is newly formed and Steve Nash is still getting a feel of the league and team from a coach’s perspective.

James Harden: “I was in a role for 8 years controlling the ball, dominating the ball. Now, it’s a different experience for me, but it’s still great. It’s still basketball at the end of the day. I’m lucky to be able to do more than just one thing on the basketball court. It’s fun”

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) January 26, 2021

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Also Read: “Nets are missing a key element”: Steve Nash reveals shortcomings of his team despite a Big 3 of Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Kevin Durant