James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers has always been known as an offensive powerhouse.
In fact, some people think he’s one of the greatest shooters the league has ever seen.
Charles Barkley is a tough critic and isn’t afraid to bash players, but he recently gave some massive praise to Harden.
“I said a few years ago, and people laughed at me, that he is the best offensive player I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said of Harden.
Charles Barkley believes James Harden is the best offensive player in NBA history
"I said a few years ago, and people laughed at me, that he is the best offensive player I've ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/02TWX8N37o
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) September 8, 2025
Harden has been a bucket since entering the league, and he has remained a great shooter no matter which team he is playing for.
Last season, Harden produced an average of 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists on 41.0 percent from the field.
For the first time in years, Harden received MVP votes again and earned an All-Star appearance.
This was one of his best seasons, and 2024-25 ended up being a year the Clippers were proud of.
They didn’t go as far as they wanted, but the Clippers were looking in much better shape.
Their offseason moves could help them improve even more in the new season, although the new investigation into Kawhi Leonard could complicate things.
As for Harden, he seems happy in Los Angeles and is playing better than he has in many seasons.
Of course, he still has room for improvement.
While Barkley praised Harden’s offensive skills, he would likely agree that Harden could get better with his defense.
He has never been praised as a true two-way player, and Clippers fans would love to see him get better at guarding opponents.
Harden may or may not become a stronger defensive star, but his offense will always be considered terrific.
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