After the 2012 season, when LeBron James was the only thing that stood in the way of a young Oklahoma City Thunder team capturing its first title, it was believed that the Thunder’s young core of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and 2013 MVP Kevin Durant would team up to form a dynasty in OKC. They were three of the most offensively-gifted players in the league, and had an impeccable flair for dramatic comebacks. They were an inspiring, close-knit bunch.
That very summer, James Harden was traded to the Rockets, as the Thunder tried to preempt the inevitable: Harden’s superstar potential would blossom in the 2013 season, and he would leave for nothing in free agency. Rather than back-up Thabo Sefolosha for another season, Harden took the reigns in Houston, a team that hadn’t seen a bonafide star lead their team since Tracy McGrady. Harden has yet to disappoint in Houston, and finished second in MVP voting after the 2014-2015 season, despite widespread criticism about his lackadaisical approach to defense.
For some reason, though, he’s not a member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball team this summer in Rio. Players at Harden’s position who don’t put up Harden’s numbers, like Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan are playing in red, white and blue however, prompting some scrutiny from Harden’s old running mate, Kevin Durant.
KD, who of course is playing alongside Thompson and DeRozan this summer, is unsure why the Bearded One isn’t singing Disney classics with him and the guys on the team plane. The newly-minted Warriors has deducted that James just doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Nobody really appreciates what he does except for the players in our league. Everybody on the outside doesn’t really appreciate what he brings. Anybody that can put up 29 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and not make the All-NBA team, that’s like a sin to even think about not putting a guy like that on the All-NBA team.
Durant’s got a point. He’s not finished, either.
As a player and someone that played with him and a fan of the game I was (angry) because somebody is right here in front of you and you can’t appreciate him. If he were to retire tomorrow, we would have so many stories and videos about how great he is, but he’s here right now doing it. Appreciate what he brings.
Is KD blindly defending one of his favorite former teammates, or does he have a point? Sure, the criticism about Harden’s defense is brought about primarily by Harden himself, but he’s easily one of the game’s most essential players. Why isn’t he in Rio or on the All-NBA team?
