James Harden hasn’t been on the Cleveland Cavaliers for long, but has already made his presence felt with the 2016 NBA champions.
Harden, who was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cavaliers on Feb. 4, is averaging 19.3 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in eight contests with his new team, shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
While Harden has proven he still has plenty of juice left in the tank at age 36, he recently made a depressing retirement statement that will sadden Cavaliers fans.
“I know it’s (retirement) coming soon,” Harden said Sunday. “Hopefully, later than soon, but it’s a reality. Everybody has to go through this at some point. Just trying to continue to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens in the next few years. Take one game at a time and cherish the moments.”
While Harden is right that he doesn’t have unlimited time left in the big leagues, it’s still unfortunate to hear the former Clippers star guard arrive at that realization shortly after joining the Cavaliers.
Although Harden is a well-known playoff underachiever, his majestic side-to-side handle/isolation brilliance and elite shot playmaking make him one of the most exciting guards to watch nightly. From the Cavaliers’ perspective, it isn’t far-fetched to suggest the hope is that the franchise can maximize Harden’s remaining time in the NBA and potentially secure another championship.
With the Eastern Conference being wide open this season, Harden and the 38-24 Cavaliers could find themselves contending for a title in the immediate future.
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