There’s no doubt that LA Clippers star James Harden was once among the NBA’s elite players. He achieved remarkable success during his time with the Houston Rockets. ‘The Beard’ won three consecutive scoring titles and led the Rockets to two Western Conference Finals appearances in 2015 and 2018. However, the one thing that eluded him most was an NBA title.
Despite all the scoring titles and his MVP award, James Harden was unable to clinch the one thing that matters most: an NBA championship. NBA veteran Evan Fournier recently expressed a similar sentiment on X. He stated that Harden would likely have been an NBA champion, but one team stood in the way. The French player used a catchy phrase to describe that team.
I understand. I think that if Harden doesn’t fall on the GSW cheat code team for 3 years he ends up NBA champion and then we talk about him differently.
Evan Fournier wrote on X as translated from French to English:
The Rockets, with Harden in his prime, faced the Warriors in the playoffs several times. He lost in the 2015 and 2018 Conference Finals, as well as in the 2016 first-round and 2019 Western Conference semifinals. The Warriors went on to win the NBA championship in 2015, 2017, and 2018, making it nearly impossible for Harden to secure the title that has long eluded him.
Je comprends. Je pense que si Harden tombe pas sur la team cheat code de GSW pdt 3 ans il finit champion NBA et la on parle de lui differement🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/IXRDVVpyT0
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) August 30, 2024
After leaving the 76ers in acrimonious circumstances, he finds himself with the LA Clippers and is still in pursuit of that elusive NBA championship. He recently re-signed with the Clippers. With the departure of Paul George, fans might get to see the Harden of old in an expanded role.
MVP James Harden’s legacy of scoring and playmaking
Despite not winning an NBA title, James Harden is undoubtedly regarded as one of the most talented players in NBA history. Although the 2018 MVP is no longer in his prime, his last season, he averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Meanwhile, he shot 42.8% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range, which were below his usual standards.
During his dominant seasons with the Rockets, Harden averaged 29.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 44.3% from the field and 36.2% from three-point range. He was widely regarded as a feared marksman in the league.
His career has somewhat resembled a character on a journey to win an NBA ring, as his time with the Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Philadelphia 76ers didn’t achieve the desired results. It points to a dark reality for the players. Great stats won’t alone win titles in the NBA.
