James Harden hasn’t looked the same for a couple of seasons now, ever since he left the Houston Rockets, he’s struggled to find the form that made him the league’s best offensive talent. Harden joined the Philadelphia 76ers and teamed up with Joel Embiid before the trade deadline in 2022, but the team wasn’t able to make much headway in the playoffs.
After a summer of signing a deal that will pay him less than what might have been expected to help the Sixers build a contending roster, Harden is ready to take on the new season. And fans noticed that the Beard has been looking in excellent shape over the offseason, looking a lot more like the James Harden of old. His weight had been a talking point for a while, but it looks like he’s ready to put that behind him now.
James Harden Joked That He’s Lost 100 Pounds Over The Summer
While the conditioning of NBA stars is a factor in their lives, it’s also not as important as some people make it out to be. Harden’s frame has never been slim, so some of the comments and observations about his weight did feel like they were a little over the top. And when he was asked about it on media day, James explained his weight loss routine before making a little sarcastic comment to the reporter who asked him exactly how much weight he has lost.
"100 pounds" 💀
James Harden on the weight he lost this offseason
(via @MrUram)pic.twitter.com/7GUxaBJ4Na
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 26, 2022
Reporter: “How much weight did you lose and how?”
James Harden: “I think it was dieting, it’s proper rest and it was for me, just strengthening my muscles, gaining more muscle mass. Which I’ve always had… just wasn’t healthy enough to put the proper work in like I’m used to, so, it was something that was huge for me, in that aspect, making sure the weightlifting and all went right off the court.”
Reporter: “How much did you lose, though?”
James Harden: “100 pounds. Tweet that.”
Harden has been an elite athlete for most of his career, an MVP, and one of the best players in the league. His offensive production is one of the greatest any player has ever produced consistently, so it’s natural that he feels a bit insulted by questions about his weight. If The Beard gets back to his best and Joel Embiid can stay healthy though, he’ll be able to shut all his haters up in style next season.
