On a recent episode of “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back his criticism of James Harden for his self-assessment as a “winner.” 

Harden, who has had an illustrious NBA career with impressive regular-season statistics and several accolades.

Claimed he wants to be remembered as a winner and someone who loved the game. This statement didn’t sit well with Smith, who provided a scathing rebuttal.

“I hate this question because I have no choice, because I’m honest. It might be the most embarrassing quote that James Harden has ever given about himself. 

My brother, James Harden is a phenomenal basketball talent.”

“Winner, you don’t get to have that. You’ve been in one NBA finals. That was 12 years ago. Okay. In that series, you were considered somebody that was MIA. 

No pun intended because it was against Miami. Okay. And you were nowhere to be found.” 

“There are several incidences in Houston where you came up significantly small, particularly the closeout game against San Antonio game six. I think it was 2016. There was another time that happened.”

“Not to mention force yourself out of Houston, forced your way out of Brooklyn, forced your way out of Philadelphia. I will defend him to the max on this. He feels he felt lied to by Darryl Morey and Darryl Morey has never had to publicly explain that he owes or I believe he owed folks an explanation for that.” 

“But in the end, you ain’t been to the finals. You don’t have a championship on your resume not only have you underperformed in some, not all, because he’s had big good moments, good big moments, but he’s also had very big bad moments in the postseason.” 

“But there are a multitude of occasions where the narrative in the basketball community was that he quit. How can you be perceived as a winner?”

Smith argued that Harden’s claim to being a winner is unfounded, considering his performance in crucial playoff moments. Harden has averaged 24.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game in the regular season throughout his career. 

In the postseason, his numbers slightly dip to 22.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. Despite these solid statistics, Smith emphasized that Harden’s legacy is marred by several instances of underperformance in critical games.

One of the most notable moments Smith highlighted was the 2012 NBA Finals when Harden, then with the Oklahoma City Thunder, was criticized for his lackluster performance against the Miami Heat. 

In that series, Harden was often seen as missing in action, contributing to the Thunder’s defeat. Additionally, Smith pointed to various playoff runs with the Houston Rockets, particularly a series against the San Antonio Spurs where Harden struggled significantly in a decisive Game 6.

Harden’s tumultuous exits from multiple teams also came under scrutiny. His forced departures from the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers painted a picture of a player more focused on personal circumstances than team success. While Smith acknowledged that Harden felt misled by 76ers executive Daryl Morey, he insisted that these off-court issues further detract from Harden’s claim of being a winner.

Smith’s core argument is that winning is not solely about talent but about delivering in high-stakes moments and achieving team success, particularly in the form of championships. Despite Harden’s impressive career averages and his undeniable skill, Smith believes that without an NBA title, Harden cannot genuinely be considered a winner.

As Harden navigates his future in the NBA, the pressure is on him to prove his critics wrong. To earn the “winner” label, Harden needs to lead his team to a championship and perform at his best in the most crucial moments. Until then, debates about his legacy and the validity of his self-assessment will likely continue.

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Source: New York Post