Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 6. James Harden
Injuries finally caught up to James Harden last season. Traditionally a workhorse in the tradition of Christian McCaffrey, Harden was the sun around which the Houston Rockets’ offense orbited for almost a decade. Now he’s in Brooklyn, where he can comfortably defer to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, affording him the opportunity to explore different aspects of his game.
Even so, Harden was easily the Nets’ best player in the regular season. While injuries made it difficult to have any definitive takeaways, none of Harden’s greatness was lost in the transition to Brooklyn’s loaded roster. He essentially took over point guard duties from Irving and quickly became the conductor of the NBA’s most dynamic offense — a role he had been playing in Houston for years.
Like Rudy Gobert ensures you a top-5 defense, Harden almost ensures you a top-5 offense. He’s so good individually, but also lifts up the players around him. Lost in the noise around Harden’s “unlikable” play style is his absolute brilliance as a passer. He can manipulate a pick-and-roll like no other, and his persistent rim pressure naturally opens up avenues for teammates.
Harden isn’t even a bad defender, as his reputation would suggest. He’s liable to take a possession or two off, but he’s an absolute brick wall in the post and can lock in when the situation requires it. Last season, Harden averaged 24.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. He slashed .466/.362/.861, lived at the charity stripe per usual, and was the glue that made Brooklyn’s ultra-talented team come together.