James Harden knew very well what he would do in the NBA even before making it to the league. After having incredible seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Brooklyn Nets, the shooting guard is one of the best scorers in league history.
In his pre-draft interview, Harden explained that going to OKC would be the best move for him. He also named the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, but The Beard sounded more convinced that Oklahoma City would be his place in the league (0:32).
“OKC is young, they have an open 2-spot, that would be a great fit,” he told DraftExpress back in 2009.
Moreover, the player drew a big comparison between himself and two big players in the league at that moment. Harden believed that he was a mix between Manu Ginobili and Paul Pierce.
“I’d say my NBA comparison is a mix of Ginobili and Paul Pierce.”
If you think about it, Harden has a valid point there. He started his career as a 6th man like Ginobili and evolved to become one of the best players in the entire association. Besides that, his game resembled the Argentine’s and the Boston Celtics’ icon.
Right now, Harden is trying to win that elusive NBA championship after tenures in OKC and Houston. The Brooklyn Nets are in a great position to aspire to win the title next season, as long as Harden returns healthy and ready to go.
He knew well what he would do in the league before the draft, and Harden has even exceeded expectations. He could win his first ring next year to top an already impressive career.
