James Harden is desperate to win an NBA championship, so much so, that when asked if he would shave off his beard for it, he did not hesitate to say he would.
“This s*** gone, Nelson,” Harden said.
While his nickname is “The Beard” and it is a big part of his brand, it’s not a surprise that Harden would readily shave it for a title. The 34-year-old has never fully shaved it off during his time in the NBA, but it’s a small price to pay for the ultimate prize.
A championship is the only thing missing from Harden’s incredible resume. He is a 10-time All-Star who has won an MVP, three scoring titles, and two assist titles. The only knock on him is that he hasn’t won an NBA title and the monkey would be off his back if he wins one.
Apart from a championship, there is actually one more thing he would do it for, as Harden once revealed he would shave off his beard for $10 million. He hilariously refused to lower the amount and added that he would just grow it back.
James Harden Said A Championship Is The Only Thing He’s Missing
Getting back to that Larry O’Brien trophy, the man himself thinks it is the only thing left for him to win. Harden said a championship is the only thing he’s missing after changing the game of basketball.
“So, of course, I care, but people are going to talk no matter what. But I care about, like, winning and things that are important and matter. I don’t care about things that don’t matter, that are gonna be a story for 24 or 48 hours and then go away.
“I’m one of the people that changed the game of basketball,” he continued. “Honestly, the only thing that I’m missing is a championship.”
I’m not quite sure if Harden changed the game, but you could make an argument that he, Daryl Morey, and the Houston Rockets did it. In some ways, they changed the way the game is played today, although some purists might say they made the game worse.
Can Harden And The Clippers Win It All?
Many viewed the 2022-23 season as Harden’s best chance to win a championship. He was playing alongside Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers, and the two had a fine supporting cast as well. They ultimately fell short, however, which meant the title continued to elude him.
Harden then asked out this past offseason and got his wish to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. After a rough start, both he and the Clippers have shone. Harden is averaging 17.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game and is a big reason why the Clippers are the fourth seed in the West with a 37-20 record.
They have been one of the best teams in the league for the last couple of months and are a serious contender to win it all. Can they go all the way though? I have some doubts about that. They have a losing record this season against each of the three teams ahead of them in the West (Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder), which makes you wonder if they are capable of beating any of them in a series.
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