James Harden finally has found himself a role and also a franchise that would cherish him like no other NBA team he has played for since getting drafted by the OKC Thunder in 2009.
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The Philadelphia 76ers have provided him with the best big man in the league, Joel Embiid. What else would a nasty-skilled player like The Beard need to make it happen?
Once famous for not being an authentic leader and sometimes even rumored to be a toxic locker-room presence, Harden is now getting praise from the likes of Isiah Thomas for improving the team after his tremendous performance in a 121-101 win against his former team.
Isiah Thomas praises James Harden for putting aside his ego and making the Sixers better
Harden, the assist leader of the NBA this season, managed to put up 23 points while racking up 13 assists, along with 4 rebounds against the Mikal Bridges-led Nets in Game 1 of the 76ers’ first round of the 2023 Playoffs.
And one of the greatest point guards of all time, Isiah Thomas, had some good things to say about the 10x All-Star.
“Putting his ego aside to make the team better, I do think we have to give him [James Harden] credit for that,” Zeke said after the game on NBA TV.
“Putting his ego aside to make the team better, I do think we have to give him credit for that.” @IsiahThomas on James Harden pic.twitter.com/BJcaizRQ3e
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 15, 2023
Considering the man was a 3x scoring champ before deciding to play with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as the 2nd/3rd star of the team and took his scoring leg off the gas almost immediately, everyone guessed he would have a positive impact on the Sixers. But he is doing much more than that.
Embiid gave Harden his flower after the game too.
“Best playmaker in the league by far…but we don’t want him…to fall in love with just that.” @JoelEmbiid speaks on James Harden’s performance after Game 1 pic.twitter.com/GWa7oFu9Ek
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 15, 2023
We disrespect Harden a lot, it’s time for it to stop
Just imagine somebody averaging well over 21 points and 10 assists in his latest three seasons, and we are saying that he has taken a secondary role in his team. Obviously, the first guy on that team is having an MVP season, but even the NBA’s ‘Point God’ (Chris Paul) has averaged 21-10 just twice in his 18-year career.
Will the 33-year-old Harden ever be considered the game’s top-5 POINT guard, and not just a scorer when he is all said and done? Maybe if he wins a championship or two. On the other hand, CP3, whether he wins a chip or not, will always be in the discussion for that category.
Harden also had the best +/- in the game at 20 in that win over the Nets. The man at times used to score 40 and have a negative plus-minus when he was in Houston. He has come a long way from that, and so, should be rewarded accordingly.
