It had started last summer, when to allow Sixers to have more leeway financially (and therefore in particular to recruit PJ Tucker), James Harden had lowered his salary (to 33 million dollars) via a one-year contract, with a “player option” for a second year.
Then, on the field once the season started, he became even more of a “playmaker”, abandoning “scoring” in favor of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for a better balance of his team’s attack (smaller average in points since leaving OKC, but second best career passing average).
In summary, for almost a year, James Harden has multiplied the sacrifices, both financial and sporting, to allow Philadelphia to be the most effective version in the quest for a title, while “The Beard” is aware that individually, at 33, his window title closes slowly but surely.
” I said to myself, before the season, that I was going to have to make sacrifices » he launches thus, for ESPN. ” Whether it’s the money or my role, let the interest of the team come first, and then see what happens to me. »
And the leader of Philly to note that at first, his sacrifices were not necessarily recognized at their fair value, while the Sixers started the regular season slowly.
” Throughout the season, I was still expected to be the James Harden scorer, the one who planted 40 or 50 points, to better affirm that we could not win like that. he adds. ” And then I play a game with 20 points and 11 assists, and then I hear that the old James Harden is dead. »
The right version, in the right collective context?
Soloist with generational talent when he was in Houston, but who never won the Grail with the Rockets, James Harden therefore moved in the last phase of his career, in Pennsylvania. That of the total creator, alongside a scoring back like Tyrese Maxey, and an MVP-caliber pivot like Joel Embiid.
” Clearly not. Impossible declared PJ Tucker with humor, on the question of knowing if this change of state of mind would have been possible in a younger James Harden, at the time of the Rockets years. ” But he accomplished everything as an individual, and today he only misses the title. And he understands that at his age, even if he is still able today to achieve some of the past performances, he needs another star, a Joel Embiid, to achieve the title.. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing to see him make that change, to take over from Joel. It shows how much he really wants that title. »
Best friend or almost of James Harden in the league, Daryl Morey hopes in any case that the observation is now clear, and appreciated at its fair value: “ the player [des Sixers] who changed his approach and the way he played the most was James “, indeed appreciates the sporting boss of the Sixers. ” When we play with [Embiid], it takes some getting used to, doesn’t it? There was a period of adjustments, but obviously it worked well for us, and we are in a good position. »
In a position to aim for a title that has therefore always eluded James Harden, despite participating in the 2012 Finals, lost with Oklahoma City against the Heat, or the missed opportunity of 2018, when his Rockets missed two match points in the conference final against the Warriors…
” The opportunities to win a title are quite rare in a career. James has had a few, but this year certainly represents his best chance concludes Daryl Morey. ” Of course, you have to take care of this great Celtics team first. But his chance is there. While coming [à Philly], he wanted this chance. He has it. We have it. It’s up to us to do the job. »
| James Harden | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 76 | 23 | 40.3 | 37.5 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 82 | 27 | 43.6 | 34.9 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 62 | 31 | 49.1 | 39.0 | 84.6 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2012-13 | HOO | 78 | 38 | 43.8 | 36.8 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 25.9 |
| 2013-14 | HOO | 73 | 38 | 45.6 | 36.6 | 86.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 25.4 |
| 2014-15 | HOO | 81 | 37 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 27.4 |
| 2015-16 | HOO | 82 | 38 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 29.0 |
| 2016-17 | HOO | 81 | 36 | 44.0 | 34.7 | 84.7 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 29.1 |
| 2017-18 ★ | HOO | 72 | 35 | 44.9 | 36.7 | 85.8 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 30.4 |
| 2018-19 | HOO | 78 | 37 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 87.9 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 36.1 |
| 2019-20 | HOO | 68 | 37 | 44.4 | 35.5 | 86.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 34.3 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 44 | 37 | 46.6 | 36.2 | 86.1 | 0.8 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | BRK | 36 | 37 | 47.1 | 36.6 | 85.6 | 0.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | HOO | 8 | 36 | 44.4 | 34.7 | 88.3 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 24.8 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 65 | 37 | 41.0 | 33.0 | 87.7 | 0.9 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 22.0 |
| 2021-22 * | BRK | 44 | 37 | 41.4 | 33.2 | 86.9 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 22.5 |
| 2021-22 * | PHL | 21 | 38 | 40.2 | 32.6 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 21.1 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 58 | 37 | 44.1 | 38.5 | 86.7 | 0.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 21.0 |
| Total | 1000 | 35 | 44.2 | 36.3 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 24.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
