Los Angeles Clippers star, James Harden has been one of the most criticized players in the NBA in recent years. Numerous critics have attempted to undermine Harden’s standing as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. During his tenure with the Houston Rockets, Harden played a pivotal role in shaping the modern era of basketball, showcasing his exceptional offensive skills and redefining the way the game is played. Recently, one of Harden’s former teammates came to his defense, highlighting the impact and contributions Harden has made.
Danuel House appeared on the Ur.Perspectives podcast and spoke about James Harden‘s legacy, reflecting on their time as teammates. House even included Harden in his top-five players of all time, despite Harden’s numerous shortfalls in the playoffs.
Why James gotta be in the top five? He had three n****s guard him every night. Name another NBA player that had three players guarding him night in and night out. I’ll wait. Alright.
Danuel House via Ur.Perspectives
House’s bold claim that Harden is a top 5 greatest player didn’t sit well with many fans because Harden’s efficiency used to significantly drop in the playoffs. Moreover, the fact that Harden has zero championship rings has significantly affected his legacy in the NBA. Many analysts do not consider Harden as an ‘all-time great’ due to his lack of playoff success.
Further, House also named LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant in his top 5 as well. These players are known for their great individual and team success in their NBA career. They have championship rings to back up their argument, which cannot be said in the case of James Harden.
James Harden failed to win the championship with the Houston Rockets
At the start of his NBA career, James Harden was the sixth man for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Many fans didn’t know about his true potential. However, once he reached the Houston Rockets, Harden became unstoppable and established himself as the best scorer in the league. Throughout his tenure with the Rockets, Harden elevated the team to championship contention but consistently fell short due to a lack of support from his teammates.
In 2018, when Chris Paul joined Harden, both stars co-existed perfectly, and Houston achieved the best-winning record in franchise history. During the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, it seemed like the Rockets would finally overcome the hump and advance to the finals.
However, in the final games of the series, Paul suffered an injury and was ruled out. Following his absence, Harden and the Rockets missed crucial shots, leading to their elimination from the playoffs.
After 2018, injuries mostly plagued both Harden and Paul, leading to their eventual departure from the team. The 2018 Rockets had one of the best teams that never won a championship with Prime Harden and Paul. Since then Harden has faced a lot of criticism about his playoffs success and credibility.
