As a HUGE Rockets fan, I have always loved him, he led us to the playoffs every full season with us, he led us to 2 conference finals, I will forever love him and support him, and I appreciate what he has done for the team during his time in Houston
@@awesomereviews1561 His scoring was down before the rules because he stepped down on scoring once he went to the Nets because they already had KD but keep making up shit
I definitely needed this video. People forget really quickly the beast that Harden was. He was robbed of two MVPs, and basketball rules changed because of him. Yes, he's taken some poor decisions in the last couple of years, but that shouldn't affect him being regarded as an all-time great. FEAR THE BEARD.
He's deff slowed down, but he can still go off some games. It's just crazy how people will try to rewrite history and act like he was always mediocre. And I don't even like harden that much, but he's still a legend.
Robbed of 2? Westbrook definitely deserved it just as much either one could have gotten it robbed of 1 absolutely but the one he lost to Westbrook man people need to look at what russ did that season absolutely earned that mvp he definitely could have won 3 mvps for sure
James Harden in his prime was simply unstoppable and one of the greatest offensive weapons in NBA history. "The Beard" finished his MVP season averaging 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
He started his career with the Thunder before being traded to Houston where he begin becoming a superstar guard. He is a two-guard who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. I don’t know who won MVP that year that he averaged 30 points a game.
James Harden is the definition of iso offensive monster threat. I still remember when he hit that stepback against two of the best defender of GSW Klay and Draymond its insane how he managed to pull that one.
Another impressive stat that wasn’t mentioned is he is also the only player to score 40 against every team in a season that wasn’t his own. His run with the Rockets will always be memorable whether people want to admit it or not. It took an all-time historic GSW team & CP3-less game 7 to knock him from the best chance at a title in ‘17. Don’t know what the rest of his career holds in store, but how he carved up the whole league during that run will never be forgotten by true hoopers 🏀
true hoopers know he met the two by far worst western teams until GSW whooped his ass, and the league brought him there by not whistling him. and for everybody who wants to argue with that: houston and utah (22yo spida and gobert) had 105 and 103 FTA houston and minnesota (jimmy and 22yo KAT) 114 and 114 houston vs GSW 159 vs 135 The second he met an opponent, the refs started helping.
He never scored 40 points against every team in a single season idk where you saw or heard that from but theyre full of shit. He had 28 40 point games during the 2018 season and theres 30 teams in the nba.......
You can tell who just started watching ball a few years ago😂😂 Harden was probably one of the best offensive players I’ve ever seen, bro was unstoppable and they had to change the rules for drawing fouls cause he was so damn good at it… I’ll always appreciate witnessing his prime
He was still playing great the past season, he led league in assists! Him and Joel made a awesome duo, they just need to get over that freaking playoff hump
@acanofwhoopass4599 The difference with Harden & Embiid is that Embiid has been choking in his prime and Harden wasn’t choking in his prime in Houston, Harden just lost to a better team which was the Warriors
@@anthonycelestin3559nah harden shooting like ass is why they lost lol okc wouldn’t have worked either cause all three of them have a career in choking. As soon as the league changed the rules hardens been ass.
Harden was a beast. Would have loved to see Durant, Westbrook, and him at OKC do something together. Dude was really great at one time. That transition into the commerical was nice. Was fun to watch. Great video
@@jaquandrejones rings don't make beasts. Plenty of greats don't have rings. This is coming from someone who hated his play style in Houston but whether I like him or not he was an incredible player and is still very solid
@@jaquandrejonesyeah, a beast that accomplished zero rings. Like Malone, Barkley and others. Winning no rings does not magically turn you into a worse player. That's the way a toddler reasons.
Prime Harden was simply unstoppable and one of the greatest offensive weapons in NBA history. "The Beard" finished his MVP season averaging 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. That’s insane!!!! 2019 season was something else for Harden.
Rockets Harden had me thinking.. he might be the best player ever!! He was really that good at one point!! Think he avg like almost 40 for like a month or two!! He really was that dude!! Man I hope he plays like that this season!
Underappreciated prime. Yes he’s not as good in the playoffs as the regular season but he is really not that bad in the playoffs other than elimination games. Also has bad luck
He has so many games shooting under 40 or 30%, only making 2 to 5 FGs. Nobody else who gets talked about like him has nearly as many bad performances. He just scored 9 points to end the season.
@@batistajrJDC he had two good games and 5 bad ones. They lost the series because of him, which makes the games he won irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
@@smoothjulio werent they suppose to lose tho.... did anyone think they would win? boston was the finals favorites for 2 years in a row. hes clearly way past his prime its not something anyone gets judged on. no one says hakeem cant carry cause he couldnt do it with the raptors. is dwade a flop for doing nothing with chicago? is ai bad at scoring cause he couldnt with denver? common now
18-19 Harden might be the most dominant offensive player I’ve ever seen. The stuff he was doing hadn’t been seen since Wilt. He was putting up 60 whenever he wanted to it felt like. It was ridiculous.
You forgot Jordan averaging 37 points, in 86-87, taking less than 1 3 point shot a game. Then did 35 a game the next year. Or that MJ has a CAREER 30 ppg average while taking less than 3 2 point shots A game.
@@michaelmamba1578 lmaooo no it wasn’t dude padded every game and still finished lower seed despite harden having the same amount of help. The only reason ppl think he was better cuz the nba wouldn’t stop sticking the KD narrative down our throats
@@michaelmamba1578nah. Russ had bad efficiency and was reckless with the ball. He just had the ball in his hands literally non stop. Harden prime way better and way more productive for winning and that’s not even an argument
To keep something that literally is most basic required feature to play in the nba: height. Serge ibaka was just a big man that could be a big body in the paint & "scare" people from driving in. Only to be traded 2-3 yrs later & start rebuilding their team.
Prime Harden was definitely a show I just hate how he could never get it done in the post season, 2018 was his and the rockets championship to lose and while yes the biggest reason they lost was because of CP3’s injury but it didn’t help with the bricks he and the team shot
most people didnt watch that game and just see the 0/27 number so they dont know that in the midst of that 0/27 stretch the refs waved off several made threes that shouldve been 4 point plays by calling the fouls on the floor, the rockets only lost that game by 9 so if those calls arent so blatantly wrong we would talk about harden in a totally different way, that rockets team was the best team to ever not make it to the finals and at the time everyone knew the 2018 wcf were the real nba finals because of how comically atrocious lebrons supporting cast was that year
this is such facts. The warriors got bailed by the refs so hard but casuals just gunna say "27 misses" yet didnt watch a single minute of the game@@edgardchow . Lebron was getting swept by te KD warriors while harden was taking them to game 7. Aside from the Lebron/Kyrie cavs, The warriors most feared Harden and his rockets
people disliked his style and said he was a ball hog, and a free throw shooter, but now when he starts passing more and doesn't try to be the first option people hate him and wish for the old harden, he isn't washed anymore, he still is capable of being a high caliber player, but him not being the first option on a 76ers team and not playing to his old play styles doesn't allow him to play to his full capabilities
Great video. I wish Clint would’ve got more love tho. Clint complemented harden better then Dwight while averaging similar numbers. At one point they were the best guard-big combo and was his most important teammate during his mvp years.
Although Harden would've definitely won a ring with Kd and Russ, I don't think he would've become the offensive juggernaut that he became with the rockets if he stayed with Okc
I think we can agree that we took james harden for granted and now that he’s nearing retirement, we’re kinda sad. He had the generational set of skills but lacked the right decisions in his career including right management. Wish he won a ring
I was thinking that if James wasn't an undisciplined player maybe he could be among the top 4 players in the NBA, but I think maybe that was the reason why he is so great because he was a very creative player and always looked to take advantage. without making more physical effort.
To think in 2018 he was 2 Quarters away from winning it all and entering the goats conversation, ever since that point his career and reputation went on a downward spiral and nobody has any respect for him anymore. Easily one of the biggest what-if players in NBA History.
Damn I want even say one of the biggest what ifs cuz dawg still had a legendary run and career 💯💪 na I have went on record and called him a chocker 😂but Prime Harden Was Jus Something Different 💯💪 Dawg was scoring like Jordan 💯💪
As a Houston native and lifelong Rockets fan that watched almost every game during Harden’s time here, he was unstoppable during his prime years. It was incredible to watch how easily he could get a bucket. Everyone has their opinions on The Beard but I appreciate the great basketball years he gave Houston fans while he was here 🤘🏽. I’ll always consider him one of the best pure scorers of all time.
How can you be underappreciated when you fold when your needed the most.Harden has a fair sum up to his career he is a really good player but he's not a champion caliber franchise player
@@Wydbrother he sucks because he's a selfish player.He's made himself predictable and spoiled only worrying about accolades n money without ever playing to his full potential
Isn't it a bit too early to post a "how good was James Harden actually" video ? This man just averaged 20 and 10 last season and he's not even that old.
Dude is the greatest scorer of all-time. Dont forget he was about to average 40 ppg in 2020 until the league started double teaming him at half court... despite all of this he still averaged a league-high 34 ppg. p.s. Dude should debatably have 4 MVPs which is also fucking insane. Currently the greatest player ever to not win a ring.
He’s led the league in scoring and finished as an MVP finalist for most of the past decade. Only reason he has no rings is cuz his prime coincided with the GSW. The same team that kept Bron, KD, AD, Westbrook, dame, etc. from winning. I don’t like how he left Houston but to say he didn’t give his all is just ignorant
Prime or ripe, young or old its awesome to have him in LA in a Clippers uniform where he definitely has found a new home with new spark new life and hopefully will stay to retire with great honor..!! GO CLIPS GO HARDEN GO!!! 💥👊🏼🏀
One of the best drivers and best at creating their shot to ever play and his three ball had such difficult shots that most other people would be lucky to hit 25%.
Did he ever score 81 points? Maybe he has more 40 and 50 point games then MJ or Kobe? I got it, he has more 60 point games then Kobe? If harden is a beast what was MJ and Kobe?
I grew up in the DFW and I never really liked the Mavs or basketball, when my brother showed me Harden in 2017 I started being a Rockets fan and I still am
Prime James Harden magician, he was like a chef who is cooking your least favourite meal and you don't like watching him but in the end he had created the best meal ever
I''ve always looked up harden as my goat mainly because im a lefty imitating his step backs and drive ins won me games and got me a couple of cash throughout the time i used to play
Cold part is that Young James Harden said to his mom "Keep this letter, Imma be a star 🌟" at his Prime he already consider a legend amd hof sooner or later.
Harden can only do what he used to do is because he knows the loop holes in the regulation. The multi step step back, the always traveling euro step, the "foul me" moves, all of these have been changed about two years ago. Him, most of all, can't do those moves anymore. After those were taken away, he can't be explosive or think of doing his go to moves anymore. It's not because he's getting older, or injuries, or management, it's because he can't do his old moves anymore
This comment reads like you've never played a lick of organized basketball in your life. He was also and still is one of the best passers in the game, which requires actual skills.
@@pitongus and I'm supposed to believe you've played organized basketball your whole life as well?? Anybody who thinks harden is that good must have beer goggles or something because he's got tons of Shaqtin a fool videos circulating on TH-cam🤣🤣🤣🤣
Not that good in fact. He was extremely good at flopping and getting not legit free throws. The instant the league stopped that nonsense his average dropped by almost 15 points… And he never played defense on top of that.
The reasons his points dropped is because he went to Brooklyn with 3 other amazing iso scorers and by the time he left and joined the 76ers he wasn’t nearly as explosive as he was and now takes a more passing first role
Arguably the single most unstoppable offensive force in league history at his peak. The Rockets ‘system’ was largely letting Harden cook, they weren’t prioritizing getting him open looks like in GS or similar, it was clear out and let Harden create.
He's as good as the rules allowed him to be. People who keep saying he is a beast also conveniently forgets the amount of times he hooks into others and flopping all over the court. Once the rules were changed, he dropped off. Not saying he is a average player but he certainly isn't an all-time great in my books.
His dominance was more so due to ref bias and rule manipulation. While I don’t blame him for doing so, it was clear indicator how much of a drop off he got as the league tries transitioning their rules differently. For his career, he has more FT than FG and this makes it seem his scoring dominance is more flukey and overly inflated.
i bet u didn't say that when Jordan was doing the same 🤡 this argument is so fuckingretarded. players foul because they can't stop the player u stupidbum
@@deebrown9263 That simply isn’t true and it’s clear that Harden manipulates rules to his favor to the point the league **literally** had to adjust their rules for this situation. No amount of reasoning you can say can justify that. Harden is known for his low base euro-step that latches and hooks into the defender’s arms that allows him to draw fouls even though he is the one initiating contact and the league had to revise for it. Even NBA players themselves know it. Don’t even get me started with his stepbacks. This is why his numbers skyrocket in the regular season but end up underperforming during the playoffs when the refs usually allow more physicality and Harden can’t bait as much needed fouls anymore. Is it not evident enough that his numbers dropped the moment the league shifted their rules?
@@duanedoldrum7570 you are right.... but still you cant fault him for taking advantage of the rules. MJ was the SINGLE MOST FOULED PERSON in the history.of the NBA. You dont discredit his greatness because of it do you?
Soo.. in other words.. you're mad because.. he drove the ball hard, people couldn't stop him, and they'd make contact to his arm(hit him/foul him)..? Interesting. Sounds like hating to me from over here. 🤷
Prime Harden had a lot of cheap freebie free throws from initiating contact. He tapered off when they started calling those calls less. Prime Harden wasn't that great.
He shoot the ball less than he did in Houston of course your scoring is going to go down plus he doesn't play that way anymore yall just say anything😂😂😂😂😂
Honestly, might get some hate for this comment, but I think even prime James Harden was overrated. People always freak out over the numbers, but I think people value them too much. His stats were insane, but empty because his team literally ran everything through him. With the level of talent that NBA players have I think a lot of the top guys could have put up similar numbers if the team gave them the same level of opportunity that the Rockets gave James. That's why he didn't deserve either of the 2 MVPs that he was "robbed" of. And I haven't even gotten into the foul-baiting and the fact that he always falls off a cliff in the playoffs when it matters.
Harden's numbers are also empty because of all his flopping. That playstyle didn't work in the playoffs or when the league changed the ref baiting/flopping rules.
he didn't deserve the MVP because his team ran everything through him? what kinda retardargument is that? MVP literally stands for most VALUABLE player and the fact that they ran everything through him just proves he's the most valuable jesus what a fuckingdumbass
Real ones will remember that all his “greatness” was a bunch of foul baiting and stretching the rules, which never worked in the postseason. If you just look at numbers, he seems better than he was. A lot like Karl Malone.
If it wasn't for GSW he would have a very different career. I suppose you can say that for a lot of teams. I just remember that year when he missed like 20 straight 3's in the postseason. A lot of those during the GSW series. 2017 maybe.
I just want to point out that as you're saying its not like his teammates are just standing in the corners waiting, that's literally what goes on in that play and 3 out of the next 5 plays you show. The exceptions being he's get flung the hot potato as the shot clock is about to expire surrounded by 3 defenders and the other is a flip back to Capella when he had the clearer path to the basket off the pnr. Teammates don't stand around, shows players standing around. He's not selfish, show him chasing an assist rather than taking the shot that is better for the team. Harden, since he began to play lead guard, has a history of his teams going historically cold in key games. His teammates have a tendency of receiving a pass with 3 or fewer seconds on the shot clock than other non-star players by a fairly significant amount. A lot of his assists, turnovers and his teams going cold can be directly linked to his pounding the rock trying to make something happen and then flinging the ball in his teammates generally vicinity. There are good assists, bad assists and pure stat chasing. Historically, Harden has a habit of having a lot more of those last two than he has of the first one. I haven't seen him play much since the bubble, not at all this year, but I still see examples of that behavior in the highlights. It's been harder to call him out on it bc he hasn't been the most effective offensive weapon on his teams recently. Flinging the ball to Embiid, Durant, George or Kawhi to take important shots is what you want him to do. There's a big difference between that and flinging it at an over the hill Josh Smith, who was never a good 3pt shooter, and having him miraculously go like 9/12 and pull you out of a 1-3 hole against the Clippers.
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As a HUGE Rockets fan, I have always loved him, he led us to the playoffs every full season with us, he led us to 2 conference finals, I will forever love him and support him, and I appreciate what he has done for the team during his time in Houston
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People are quick to forget what an offensive juggernaut he truly was, he dominated the league offensively during those years.
Nah. He was good at flopping and getting fake fouls. As soon as the league stopped that he averaged 15 points less.
@@awesomereviews1561 His scoring was down before the rules because he stepped down on scoring once he went to the Nets because they already had KD but keep making up shit
Those 2 things happened around the same time bro
fax these dumb casuals get on my nerves, he completely transformed his game on the nets @@hyabberhane
@@awesomereviews1561incorrect, he was a facilitator by that time. If harden wants to average 26-28 ppg, he could definitely still do it.
I definitely needed this video. People forget really quickly the beast that Harden was. He was robbed of two MVPs, and basketball rules changed because of him. Yes, he's taken some poor decisions in the last couple of years, but that shouldn't affect him being regarded as an all-time great. FEAR THE BEARD.
He's deff slowed down, but he can still go off some games. It's just crazy how people will try to rewrite history and act like he was always mediocre. And I don't even like harden that much, but he's still a legend.
Robbed of 2? Westbrook definitely deserved it just as much either one could have gotten it robbed of 1 absolutely but the one he lost to Westbrook man people need to look at what russ did that season absolutely earned that mvp he definitely could have won 3 mvps for sure
@@redluke8119 he should of won mvp over giannis in 2019
@@naosidin3726cap
@redluke8119 I’m probably in the minority but I think he should have won MVP over Steph in 2015
James Harden in his prime was simply unstoppable and one of the greatest offensive weapons in NBA history. "The Beard" finished his MVP season averaging 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
With >10 ppg coming from free throws on non fouls…
@@suricata1993 you delete free throws from those years he's scoring champ, he's still scoring champ. what's your point?
@@suricata1993 So? Are free throws not part of the game?
That mvp was stolen from bron:
He started his career with the Thunder before being traded to Houston where he begin becoming a superstar guard. He is a two-guard who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. I don’t know who won MVP that year that he averaged 30 points a game.
Crazy to see him get drafted, sixth man, MVP & now I’m sitting here watching a retrospective of his career 😅
James Harden is the definition of iso offensive monster threat. I still remember when he hit that stepback against two of the best defender of GSW Klay and Draymond its insane how he managed to pull that one.
That shot ruined the refs game plan and he was also fouled on that shot
So good, he could never win. 🤙
@@milesdyett4922 yeah but greatness isnt always about winning, because winning relies too much on teammates and coaching no man is an island lol
The man made the floor his island lol
@@noksinoksoh7161greatness in basketball is definitely about winning. Greatness sure as hell isn't about losing lol
Another impressive stat that wasn’t mentioned is he is also the only player to score 40 against every team in a season that wasn’t his own. His run with the Rockets will always be memorable whether people want to admit it or not. It took an all-time historic GSW team & CP3-less game 7 to knock him from the best chance at a title in ‘17. Don’t know what the rest of his career holds in store, but how he carved up the whole league during that run will never be forgotten by true hoopers 🏀
true hoopers know he met the two by far worst western teams until GSW whooped his ass, and the league brought him there by not whistling him.
and for everybody who wants to argue with that:
houston and utah (22yo spida and gobert) had 105 and 103 FTA
houston and minnesota (jimmy and 22yo KAT) 114 and 114
houston vs GSW 159 vs 135
The second he met an opponent, the refs started helping.
Thats 2018 and 2019 bruh, 2017 warriors wiped th out of every team they encountered in the playoffs
So good, he could never win. 🤙
He never scored 40 points against every team in a single season idk where you saw or heard that from but theyre full of shit. He had 28 40 point games during the 2018 season and theres 30 teams in the nba.......
@@ronaldteves3939yup in 2018 rockets were close to beating GSW... By the way, the videos on the playlist on my channel might interest some people!
You can tell who just started watching ball a few years ago😂😂 Harden was probably one of the best offensive players I’ve ever seen, bro was unstoppable and they had to change the rules for drawing fouls cause he was so damn good at it… I’ll always appreciate witnessing his prime
You mean damn good at cheating? Since they changed it deflated his stats and he still continues choking
@@perrodepajahow is it cheating if he was playing by the rules (at the time)
@@perrodepajahow’s he cheating ?
@@perrodepaja mad?
He was still playing great the past season, he led league in assists! Him and Joel made a awesome duo, they just need to get over that freaking playoff hump
Joel a choker
@@daddyfuse50they both are.. that’s why they’re made for each other
@acanofwhoopass4599 The difference with Harden & Embiid is that Embiid has been choking in his prime and Harden wasn’t choking in his prime in Houston, Harden just lost to a better team which was the Warriors
@@AlegendArisesjoel sold harden
@@anthonycelestin3559nah harden shooting like ass is why they lost lol okc wouldn’t have worked either cause all three of them have a career in choking. As soon as the league changed the rules hardens been ass.
Harden was a beast. Would have loved to see Durant, Westbrook, and him at OKC do something together. Dude was really great at one time. That transition into the commerical was nice. Was fun to watch. Great video
We wouldn't have seen this version of Harden if he stayed
A beast that accomplished a grand total of 0 rings lmao been kicked out of what, 3 locker rooms now? My hero
@@jaquandrejones rings don't make beasts. Plenty of greats don't have rings. This is coming from someone who hated his play style in Houston but whether I like him or not he was an incredible player and is still very solid
@@taetrrtot6205 didn't say he wasn't a beast, did I? However he didn't accomplish shit that counts so cry louder
@@jaquandrejonesyeah, a beast that accomplished zero rings. Like Malone, Barkley and others. Winning no rings does not magically turn you into a worse player. That's the way a toddler reasons.
Prime Harden was simply unstoppable and one of the greatest offensive weapons in NBA history. "The Beard" finished his MVP season averaging 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
That’s insane!!!! 2019 season was something else for Harden.
Rockets Harden had me thinking..
he might be the best player ever!! He was really that good at one point!! Think he avg like almost 40 for like a month or two!! He really was that dude!!
Man I hope he plays like that this season!
Despite Harden’s downfall. He will always be one of my favorite players of all time.
Underappreciated prime. Yes he’s not as good in the playoffs as the regular season but he is really not that bad in the playoffs other than elimination games. Also has bad luck
He has so many games shooting under 40 or 30%, only making 2 to 5 FGs.
Nobody else who gets talked about like him has nearly as many bad performances.
He just scored 9 points to end the season.
@@smoothjuliohe did bad the last game but he carried them to two wins whereas embiid didn’t do anything the entire series
Bruh, when Philly needed him most, he vanished 😂
@@batistajrJDC he had two good games and 5 bad ones. They lost the series because of him, which makes the games he won irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
@@smoothjulio werent they suppose to lose tho.... did anyone think they would win? boston was the finals favorites for 2 years in a row. hes clearly way past his prime its not something anyone gets judged on. no one says hakeem cant carry cause he couldnt do it with the raptors. is dwade a flop for doing nothing with chicago? is ai bad at scoring cause he couldnt with denver? common now
18-19 Harden might be the most dominant offensive player I’ve ever seen. The stuff he was doing hadn’t been seen since Wilt. He was putting up 60 whenever he wanted to it felt like. It was ridiculous.
You forgot Jordan averaging 37 points, in 86-87, taking less than 1 3 point shot a game. Then did 35 a game the next year. Or that MJ has a CAREER 30 ppg average while taking less than 3 2 point shots A game.
@@blazedbeye3412nobody mentioned Jordan take your meds
Harden was a beast
In the regular season
Harden is a$$ in the playoffs
Is*
Except for when it matters the most
Da Flop God
FTs made > FGs made
His Houston era was unmatchable.
Thank you for reminding everyone by stats that James Harden was robbed two MVPs.
Russ mvp still better
@@michaelmamba1578 Russ was amazing too
@@michaelmamba1578 lmaooo no it wasn’t dude padded every game and still finished lower seed despite harden having the same amount of help. The only reason ppl think he was better cuz the nba wouldn’t stop sticking the KD narrative down our throats
@@michaelmamba1578nah. Russ had bad efficiency and was reckless with the ball. He just had the ball in his hands literally non stop. Harden prime way better and way more productive for winning and that’s not even an argument
@@RTW1738facts the nba pushed that narrative all season
Those quad injuries really slowed him down. He doesn't blow by guys as easily as he used to before he got to the nets.
The fact OKC was broken up over 5 million is ridiculous from both sides.
Dat Shyt Krazy 😂💯💪 smh
To keep something that literally is most basic required feature to play in the nba: height. Serge ibaka was just a big man that could be a big body in the paint & "scare" people from driving in. Only to be traded 2-3 yrs later & start rebuilding their team.
Insane!!
Prime Harden was definitely a show I just hate how he could never get it done in the post season, 2018 was his and the rockets championship to lose and while yes the biggest reason they lost was because of CP3’s injury but it didn’t help with the bricks he and the team shot
most people didnt watch that game and just see the 0/27 number so they dont know that in the midst of that 0/27 stretch the refs waved off several made threes that shouldve been 4 point plays by calling the fouls on the floor, the rockets only lost that game by 9 so if those calls arent so blatantly wrong we would talk about harden in a totally different way, that rockets team was the best team to ever not make it to the finals and at the time everyone knew the 2018 wcf were the real nba finals because of how comically atrocious lebrons supporting cast was that year
this is such facts. The warriors got bailed by the refs so hard but casuals just gunna say "27 misses" yet didnt watch a single minute of the game@@edgardchow . Lebron was getting swept by te KD warriors while harden was taking them to game 7. Aside from the Lebron/Kyrie cavs, The warriors most feared Harden and his rockets
people disliked his style and said he was a ball hog, and a free throw shooter, but now when he starts passing more and doesn't try to be the first option people hate him and wish for the old harden, he isn't washed anymore, he still is capable of being a high caliber player, but him not being the first option on a 76ers team and not playing to his old play styles doesn't allow him to play to his full capabilities
I definitely took Harden’s prime for granted. A true scoring machine
Prime Harden was one of the favourite players to watch
Great video. I wish Clint would’ve got more love tho. Clint complemented harden better then Dwight while averaging similar numbers. At one point they were the best guard-big combo and was his most important teammate during his mvp years.
Although Harden would've definitely won a ring with Kd and Russ, I don't think he would've become the offensive juggernaut that he became with the rockets if he stayed with Okc
I always thought OKC should've started harden at point and Russ at shooting guard
@@YungBeezy51or just trade westbrick at all
@@joezxcbro, Westbrook was the best player in the league for a year. Stop having recency bias.
I think we can agree that we took james harden for granted and now that he’s nearing retirement, we’re kinda sad. He had the generational set of skills but lacked the right decisions in his career including right management. Wish he won a ring
I was thinking that if James wasn't an undisciplined player maybe he could be among the top 4 players in the NBA, but I think maybe that was the reason why he is so great because he was a very creative player and always looked to take advantage. without making more physical effort.
That hello fresh transition was as smooth as a harden pass 😂
Top 5 offensive player of all time. People truly forget how good this man was, great video
He's definitely an NBA player of all time!
Realistically tho harden at least top 30. Offensive output was to ridiculous to argue anything lower
@@ballsballsballs3617 just throwing out wide numbers so that noone can debate, noice
😂😂
The fact that this is a 20 min video and that cinematic opening shows the respect they have for James Harden 😆😆🔥🔥🔥
To think in 2018 he was 2 Quarters away from winning it all and entering the goats conversation, ever since that point his career and reputation went on a downward spiral and nobody has any respect for him anymore. Easily one of the biggest what-if players in NBA History.
Damn I want even say one of the biggest what ifs cuz dawg still had a legendary run and career 💯💪 na I have went on record and called him a chocker 😂but Prime Harden Was Jus Something Different 💯💪 Dawg was scoring like Jordan 💯💪
I almost cried that day, I love Harden that much!
@@stefandanlag3316🤨
That transition to the Sponsor was smooth again man, great job
It's crazy how Harden looks like someone's fat, drunk uncle, but was so deadly on the court.
What an amazing journey his NBA career was. He traveled through most of it.
😂
Okay ref
the dribbling he does to disguise the fact he took a third step. he knows how to game the refs
A triple entendre 😂
Aw.. a big bad hater.. lol
Goat video, goat player, top 5 of your position all time is something special
As a Houston native and lifelong Rockets fan that watched almost every game during Harden’s time here, he was unstoppable during his prime years. It was incredible to watch how easily he could get a bucket. Everyone has their opinions on The Beard but I appreciate the great basketball years he gave Houston fans while he was here 🤘🏽. I’ll always consider him one of the best pure scorers of all time.
He became underappreciated because he was baiting too much foul, taking extra steps, coming short in the biggest moment
How can you be underappreciated when you fold when your needed the most.Harden has a fair sum up to his career he is a really good player but he's not a champion caliber franchise player
@@mxhughesshit I guess he sucks Cus he lost against the golden state warriors
@@Wydbrother he sucks because he's a selfish player.He's made himself predictable and spoiled only worrying about accolades n money without ever playing to his full potential
@@mxhughes15:04
@@mxhughes LMAOO SELFISH PLAYER WHEN HE AVERAGED 11.5 ASSIST A SEASON LMAOO STFU
Isn't it a bit too early to post a "how good was James Harden actually" video ? This man just averaged 20 and 10 last season and he's not even that old.
Not too early since his best days are clearly behind him
@@holdmyweight3597and hes still a top3 pg in the league and an all nba level player. Says a lot about his quality dont it.
@@DefendTheCodechoked again in playoffs.
Harden is the real game changer of this generation. The stepback 3s, eurosteps & drawing contacts.
Damn I never even thought about it like that 💯
oue
Sounds like Dirk to me 🤔
Harden hasn't been the same since he was in Houston. Dantoni was a perfect fit in Houston and Phoenix.
Dude is the greatest scorer of all-time. Dont forget he was about to average 40 ppg in 2020 until the league started double teaming him at half court... despite all of this he still averaged a league-high 34 ppg.
p.s. Dude should debatably have 4 MVPs which is also fucking insane. Currently the greatest player ever to not win a ring.
I suggest you Google a man named wilt
He’s led the league in scoring and finished as an MVP finalist for most of the past decade. Only reason he has no rings is cuz his prime coincided with the GSW. The same team that kept Bron, KD, AD, Westbrook, dame, etc. from winning. I don’t like how he left Houston but to say he didn’t give his all is just ignorant
Thanks NS for highlighting people GREATNESS 💛🤝🏾
Prime or ripe, young or old its awesome to have him in LA in a Clippers uniform where he definitely has found a new home with new spark new life and hopefully will stay to retire with great honor..!! GO CLIPS GO HARDEN GO!!! 💥👊🏼🏀
Thank you for this video! James Harden was an absolute beast on the court and he deserves all the praise he can get.
Bruh💀
@@Richxwolffk u laughing at
8:19
I just realized Doncic did similar numbers against the same team.
Do one for Russell Westbrook
Never understood why OKC let him go and not Ibaka. Those first two games as a Houston Rocket I knew he was straight after that
Harden's 2018 season is crazy.
That Rockets team was our only hope against the KD Warriors
One of the best drivers and best at creating their shot to ever play and his three ball had such difficult shots that most other people would be lucky to hit 25%.
Back in 2016-2019 you couldn’t get rockets tickets young ones don’t know he had that Toyota center packed out more than the concerts
60 pts triple double is epic
Thank you nonstop for all the good videos they changed my day
Prime harden was a beast🔥
Did he ever score 81 points? Maybe he has more 40 and 50 point games then MJ or Kobe? I got it, he has more 60 point games then Kobe? If harden is a beast what was MJ and Kobe?
I grew up in the DFW and I never really liked the Mavs or basketball, when my brother showed me Harden in 2017 I started being a Rockets fan and I still am
They start the video with Harden taking illegal steps for a 3 pointer and not getting called. That sums up James Harden pretty well. @0:07
7:16 “Howard and James weren’t on speaking terms, so Howard was traded to Orlando” Dwiet in a hawks warmup💀
Yeah he is a beast in drawing fouls.
And taking extra steps @0:07 🤣🤣🤣
Did you come to a harden video just to hate
That was the sickest transition to your hello fresh plug!
Prime James Harden magician, he was like a chef who is cooking your least favourite meal and you don't like watching him but in the end he had created the best meal ever
the appreciation wrapped up was inspiring
At his prime, possible the best Regular Season player of all time, dude was a one man army
I''ve always looked up harden as my goat mainly because im a lefty imitating his step backs and drive ins won me games and got me a couple of cash throughout the time i used to play
Da Flop God
FTs made > FGs made
Cold part is that Young James Harden said to his mom "Keep this letter, Imma be a star 🌟" at his Prime he already consider a legend amd hof sooner or later.
Imo he should have more than one MVP. I hate seeing him get so disrespected now
Hes better than Giannis
@@jimbojimbo6873yup
@@jimbojimbo6873he was but now he ain't
Nope
@@marqkuisphillip2295when was he better
Those 3s were brutal coming from James Harden!
Still weird to see harden without beard
Looks like James Soften
So explosive with poise agility smooth great timing at the basket.I call him the great Hope
this is fire you should do one for russell westbrook
It came out 5 mins ago and it's 17 minutes just watch the whole thing frist
Funny you say that, because we're finishing up the edit for the Westbrook one right now! 😂
@@nonstopthe consistency is amazing one of my favourite basketball fact youtubers
That Harden archetype in 2k24 gonna go crazy.
Always was and always will be a free throw merchant that disappeared in the playoffs.
wrong get his dick out your throat
James harden always my favorite
Did Harden write this?
Didn’t need the video but great video nba fans needs to know this
😂😂😂😂 he was the best free throw shooter of his era 😂
He was a beast until refs stopped giving him a millon freethrows per game.
Defenders realized that they could defend again and that's it.
L take 🤦
@@coleboczulak8863 okay Harden fan 🙂
This is so true 😂 and his ref baiting playstyle ruined the league for years it didn't even look like basketball anymore
@@coleboczulak8863W* take
If Kobe got Harden calls he would have average 40 ppg. Kobe was the most lethal offensive weapon ever.
Proverbs 14:5
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
Glad I am a Houston Rocket fan and enjoyed his show over the prime period. I love this man and I hope he can get a ring this year. Go James~
Harden can only do what he used to do is because he knows the loop holes in the regulation. The multi step step back, the always traveling euro step, the "foul me" moves, all of these have been changed about two years ago. Him, most of all, can't do those moves anymore. After those were taken away, he can't be explosive or think of doing his go to moves anymore. It's not because he's getting older, or injuries, or management, it's because he can't do his old moves anymore
Exactly. He was abusing the system. Good for him but it’s not real skills.
@@awesomereviews1561 💯 exactly!!
Lmao keep coping, with that logic I’m assuming you believe people can’t die.
This comment reads like you've never played a lick of organized basketball in your life. He was also and still is one of the best passers in the game, which requires actual skills.
@@pitongus and I'm supposed to believe you've played organized basketball your whole life as well?? Anybody who thinks harden is that good must have beer goggles or something because he's got tons of Shaqtin a fool videos circulating on TH-cam🤣🤣🤣🤣
James Harden HOUSTON DAYS UNSTOPPABLE 💯
Harden choked every playoff series ever since his choke job in the 2012 Finals
Great narration. Good job 👍🏻
Not that good in fact. He was extremely good at flopping and getting not legit free throws. The instant the league stopped that nonsense his average dropped by almost 15 points… And he never played defense on top of that.
Agree, in fact, he is one of the most overrated players ever.
The reasons his points dropped is because he went to Brooklyn with 3 other amazing iso scorers and by the time he left and joined the 76ers he wasn’t nearly as explosive as he was and now takes a more passing first role
I will never understand why harden gets so much disrespect compared to other superstars, I wonder how the trend started
Arguably the single most unstoppable offensive force in league history at his peak. The Rockets ‘system’ was largely letting Harden cook, they weren’t prioritizing getting him open looks like in GS or similar, it was clear out and let Harden create.
He's as good as the rules allowed him to be. People who keep saying he is a beast also conveniently forgets the amount of times he hooks into others and flopping all over the court. Once the rules were changed, he dropped off. Not saying he is a average player but he certainly isn't an all-time great in my books.
lol
he was always dealing with injury
He dropped off bc his role on the team changed, not bc of the rules
every vid on point. i swear other channels way overrated with the fake deep thought analysis. its all presentation. actual facts here
His dominance was more so due to ref bias and rule manipulation. While I don’t blame him for doing so, it was clear indicator how much of a drop off he got as the league tries transitioning their rules differently. For his career, he has more FT than FG and this makes it seem his scoring dominance is more flukey and overly inflated.
i bet u didn't say that when Jordan was doing the same 🤡 this argument is so fuckingretarded. players foul because they can't stop the player u stupidbum
His dominance has nothing to do with refs being bias players was reaching n fouling him , humping at the step backs n undercut him
@@deebrown9263 That simply isn’t true and it’s clear that Harden manipulates rules to his favor to the point the league **literally** had to adjust their rules for this situation. No amount of reasoning you can say can justify that. Harden is known for his low base euro-step that latches and hooks into the defender’s arms that allows him to draw fouls even though he is the one initiating contact and the league had to revise for it. Even NBA players themselves know it. Don’t even get me started with his stepbacks. This is why his numbers skyrocket in the regular season but end up underperforming during the playoffs when the refs usually allow more physicality and Harden can’t bait as much needed fouls anymore. Is it not evident enough that his numbers dropped the moment the league shifted their rules?
@@duanedoldrum7570 you are right.... but still you cant fault him for taking advantage of the rules. MJ was the SINGLE MOST FOULED PERSON in the history.of the NBA. You dont discredit his greatness because of it do you?
Soo.. in other words.. you're mad because.. he drove the ball hard, people couldn't stop him, and they'd make contact to his arm(hit him/foul him)..? Interesting. Sounds like hating to me from over here. 🤷
I’m a big Houston fan and remeber that harden made me fall in love with the game. I will NEVER EVER forgot the beard😁👌🏻
Prime Harden had a lot of cheap freebie free throws from initiating contact. He tapered off when they started calling those calls less. Prime Harden wasn't that great.
He shoot the ball less than he did in Houston of course your scoring is going to go down plus he doesn't play that way anymore yall just say anything😂😂😂😂😂
Honestly, might get some hate for this comment, but I think even prime James Harden was overrated. People always freak out over the numbers, but I think people value them too much. His stats were insane, but empty because his team literally ran everything through him. With the level of talent that NBA players have I think a lot of the top guys could have put up similar numbers if the team gave them the same level of opportunity that the Rockets gave James. That's why he didn't deserve either of the 2 MVPs that he was "robbed" of. And I haven't even gotten into the foul-baiting and the fact that he always falls off a cliff in the playoffs when it matters.
Harden's numbers are also empty because of all his flopping. That playstyle didn't work in the playoffs or when the league changed the ref baiting/flopping rules.
just say you're a dumbass
melo in new york had the green light for everything so why couldn't he do the things james did? your argument is so fuckingstupid 🤡
he didn't deserve the MVP because his team ran everything through him? what kinda retardargument is that? MVP literally stands for most VALUABLE player and the fact that they ran everything through him just proves he's the most valuable jesus what a fuckingdumbass
Basketball gods got mad of Harden’s antics that they took away his ability. So long prime harden
Real ones will remember that all his “greatness” was a bunch of foul baiting and stretching the rules, which never worked in the postseason.
If you just look at numbers, he seems better than he was. A lot like Karl Malone.
That's one way of telling people you don't know ball.
Yep, real ones remember the NBA changing the rules because Harden was ruining the league and driving away viewers
I have learned so much from these videos it is incredible. Thank you!
Great video but im sorry losing luc mbah amoute was not major at all 😂. Ariza was a big piece though
If it wasn't for GSW he would have a very different career. I suppose you can say that for a lot of teams. I just remember that year when he missed like 20 straight 3's in the postseason. A lot of those during the GSW series. 2017 maybe.
Did he miss those or was it the whole team..
I just want to point out that as you're saying its not like his teammates are just standing in the corners waiting, that's literally what goes on in that play and 3 out of the next 5 plays you show. The exceptions being he's get flung the hot potato as the shot clock is about to expire surrounded by 3 defenders and the other is a flip back to Capella when he had the clearer path to the basket off the pnr. Teammates don't stand around, shows players standing around. He's not selfish, show him chasing an assist rather than taking the shot that is better for the team.
Harden, since he began to play lead guard, has a history of his teams going historically cold in key games. His teammates have a tendency of receiving a pass with 3 or fewer seconds on the shot clock than other non-star players by a fairly significant amount. A lot of his assists, turnovers and his teams going cold can be directly linked to his pounding the rock trying to make something happen and then flinging the ball in his teammates generally vicinity. There are good assists, bad assists and pure stat chasing. Historically, Harden has a habit of having a lot more of those last two than he has of the first one. I haven't seen him play much since the bubble, not at all this year, but I still see examples of that behavior in the highlights. It's been harder to call him out on it bc he hasn't been the most effective offensive weapon on his teams recently. Flinging the ball to Embiid, Durant, George or Kawhi to take important shots is what you want him to do. There's a big difference between that and flinging it at an over the hill Josh Smith, who was never a good 3pt shooter, and having him miraculously go like 9/12 and pull you out of a 1-3 hole against the Clippers.
UNDERRATED!