JJ Redick praised James Harden before the Los Angeles Lakers played against the L.A. Clippers tonight. He named Harden one of the smartest players of his generation. Redick added that Harden has also been in the NBA long enough to see every kind of scheme and coverage possible. He has found a way to adapt to all of them and still find success in the league as a scorer.
“He’s one of the smartest players that has played in this generation. He can dice up your defense in a number of ways. He’s seen every coverage, he’s seen every gimmick, and he continues to produce at a high level.”
Harden undoubtedly has a strong legacy in the NBA. A former MVP and a three-time scoring champion, Harden has been one of the most prominent players in the league for many years now. Now a lot older and past his prime, Harden is still a very valuable player in the NBA.
Many in the NBA have credited Harden for being a player that caused the change in the game. He, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are played many feel brought about the three-point revolution, as all three stars were volume shooters from range who were scarily accurate from beyond the arc.
Throughout his career, Harden has made 36.3% of his three-point attempts. He sits second in the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made list with 3,047 three-pointers. The only player with more threes in the NBA is his fellow 2009 Draft class member Stephen Curry, who has 3,893 three-pointers made.
His three-point shooting is what made Harden such a dangerous scorer. But his ability to create his own shots made him a lethal player for opposing teams. At his peak, Harden could get the best of any defender in front of him.
In the last few years, especially since he left the Rockets in 2021, Harden has transitioned from being more of a playmaker rather than a scorer. Since 2021, Harden has averaged 9.6 assists per game and averaged 10+ assists in three of the last five seasons. His APG (assists per game) has been falling over the last few months, with him averaging 8.5 assists per game last season and 8.0 assists this season.
This might suggest that Harden might be declining as a player, but he is still an important piece for the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden was trusted with shouldering the team’s offensive responsibilities this season while Kawhi Leonard was out with an injury. And he did an admirable job, averaging 21.4 points, 8.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
During Kawhi Leonard’s absence, Harden led the Clippers to a 20-16 record, which is quite strong given how competitive the Western Conference is this season. He proved in the early part of the season that he still has a lot to offer as a star player in the NBA.
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