James Harden's Game Will Age Exceptionally Well

[SelfishPlayer]

Why can't he age like Chris Paul? I think he should be a productive difference maker into his late 30's for sure. He isn't small, he's a great shooter and like the common trait of all elite players that stayed at a high level for a long time, he's a transcendent level playmaker and floor general.

Hes a way different player than Chris Paul. If you dont understand this, you really dont understand basketball.

Chris Paul is the ultimate PG, floor general and team player. He knows of the play in the flow of the offense and pick his spots, while getting everybody involved.

Harden is much more of a ball dominant, ISO scorer and PnR player. His game is based in being a threat to score. He has elite vision and is a pick and roll maestro, but his assist are much more like Westbrook or Iverson's asissts than Chris Paul or John Stockton.

Harden was done with Brooklyn because they didnt let him hog the ball and build the offense around him.


Also, Chris Paul takes much better care of his body.

I disagree with like half of your opinion. Harden is truly unselfish, remember when he was a sixth man? Harden has literally played every single perimeter position. Chris Paul is the "selfish" ball dominant one. Chris Paul over . much of his career has no All Star value outside of him running his offense and doing things his way. Chris Paul over much of his career couldn't play off ball like Harden or Iverson. He wouldn't even allow such a thing to happen. Lastly, Harden can play basketball without dribbling. He can catch and shoot, as well as make accurate passes from anywhere on the court to everywhere on the court. Chris Paul doesn't have an MVP...

[Lou84]

Why can't he age like Chris Paul? I think he should be a productive difference maker into his late 30's for sure. He isn't small, he's a great shooter and like the common trait of all elite players that stayed at a high level for a long time, he's a transcendent level playmaker and floor general.

Hes a way different player than Chris Paul. If you dont understand this, you really dont understand basketball.

Chris Paul is the ultimate PG, floor general and team player. He knows of the play in the flow of the offense and pick his spots, while getting everybody involved.

Harden is much more of a ball dominant, ISO scorer and PnR player. His game is based in being a threat to score. He has elite vision and is a pick and roll maestro, but his assist are much more like Westbrook or Iverson's asissts than Chris Paul or John Stockton.

Harden was done with Brooklyn because they didnt let him hog the ball and build the offense around him.


Also, Chris Paul takes much better care of his body.

First four games in philly his highest field gold attemps was 14! and he dished out 12 assists per game. All without beeing ball dominant, on the contrary, he plays within the flow of the offense and sets up his teammates just fine. Until now he is an absolute dream of a PG. He even defends better than expected. As long as I am following the sixers I haven´t seen a PG nearly as good as him in Philly. He can shoot the step back 3s from a wheelchair if needed, so he will always be a threat from there. Furtermore he is a big dude. Just because he might lose a step while getting older doesn´t mean he cannot bully smaller players anymore.
As for Brookly, I don´t know dude. A healthy team of KD/Irving/Harden is a lock for the finales. Everyone knows that, but the flat earther tried to make a stupid point. I would have been out of there as well. Life is short, why spend it with an idiot co-worker who is not all in?

[Kobe187]

No he’s dropped off quite a bit from 2-3 seasons ago, he seems to have gotten a lot slower. Apparently, he doesn’t have the elite level of commitment to health and fitness as some of the other stars that maintain their level of play after their prime years, as a result don’t think he’ll be elite after next season when he’s 34. 2 year window.

[Prospect Dong]

I think his skill and craftiness give him a pretty high floor into his mid-30s, but the peaks he's hit are very athleticism-dependent. As long as officiating/injuries don't undo him - and he's at higher risk of that than most players - he'll remain very productive for the next 5+ years, but he probably takes a significant step down in each of the next three seasons as he loses his elite quickness and power.

[imDatknicksTape]

I think Philly and Nets knew his semi prime was only gonna last for the next 2-4 yrs. Its James Fn Harden, any team will have to take a chance on him

[stormi]

Why can't he age like Chris Paul? I think he should be a productive difference maker into his late 30's for sure. He isn't small, he's a great shooter and like the common trait of all elite players that stayed at a high level for a long time, he's a transcendent level playmaker and floor general.

Hes a way different player than Chris Paul. If you dont understand this, you really dont understand basketball.

Chris Paul is the ultimate PG, floor general and team player. He knows of the play in the flow of the offense and pick his spots, while getting everybody involved.

Harden is much more of a ball dominant, ISO scorer and PnR player. His game is based in being a threat to score. He has elite vision and is a pick and roll maestro, but his assist are much more like Westbrook or Iverson's asissts than Chris Paul or John Stockton.

Harden was done with Brooklyn because they didnt let him hog the ball and build the offense around him.


Also, Chris Paul takes much better care of his body.

I disagree with like half of your opinion. Harden is truly unselfish, remember when he was a sixth man? Harden has literally played every single perimeter position. Chris Paul is the "selfish" ball dominant one. Chris Paul over . much of his career has no All Star value outside of him running his offense and doing things his way. Chris Paul over much of his career couldn't play off ball like Harden or Iverson. He wouldn't even allow such a thing to happen. Lastly, Harden can play basketball without dribbling. He can catch and shoot, as well as make accurate passes from anywhere on the court to everywhere on the court. Chris Paul doesn't have an MVP...

This. But also whether they're the same type of player or not isn't really fundamentally relevant to my general point. James Harden can age more into a backseat role that scores opportunistic buckets as his athleticism declines while still maintaining borderline elite shooting ability and elite mastery of playmaking. I think he'll be a really strong starter until 36/37 barring he doesn't let himself go.

[SelfishPlayer]

I think his skill and craftiness give him a pretty high floor into his mid-30s, but the peaks he's hit are very athleticism-dependent. As long as officiating/injuries don't undo him - and he's at higher risk of that than most players - he'll remain very productive for the next 5+ years, but he probably takes a significant step down in each of the next three seasons as he loses his elite quickness and power.

Allen Iverson had elite quickness, Harden never had it. I do believe what you could be referring to in boxing terms would be called "timing." Harden will retire with great timing of knowing just when and how to move in order to make the play.

[Prospect Dong]

I think his skill and craftiness give him a pretty high floor into his mid-30s, but the peaks he's hit are very athleticism-dependent. As long as officiating/injuries don't undo him - and he's at higher risk of that than most players - he'll remain very productive for the next 5+ years, but he probably takes a significant step down in each of the next three seasons as he loses his elite quickness and power.

Allen Iverson had elite quickness, Harden never had it. I do believe what you could be referring to in boxing terms would be called "timing." Harden will retire with great timing of knowing just when and how to move in order to make the play.

I think iverson had elite quickness for a 5’10” guy and harden has it for a 6’5” guy. Obviously he’s no iverson, but he is/was very quick for his size. But, yeah, he’s also a great technician and he’ll stay that, and stay big, as he ages. I’m certainly not predicting a decline like iversons

[DroseReturnChi]

i think his game will age horribly. we all saw the horrors of his decline in the nets.
his game is a lot athleticism and speed based as well he is not crafty as someone like cp3 who is a rare exception.
his next contract will be one of the worst as at age 37 with making over 50mil.

[rocketsfan100]

Harden simply is a basketball maestro. He has generationally great playmaking skills that dose not rely on Athletic ability but more so intelligence . His game if he keeps himself in reasonable shape and motivated will be elite for atleast 3 more years. He can be like Chris Paul elite at 36 or 37

[rocketsfan100]

Why can't he age like Chris Paul? I think he should be a productive difference maker into his late 30's for sure. He isn't small, he's a great shooter and like the common trait of all elite players that stayed at a high level for a long time, he's a transcendent level playmaker and floor general.

Hes a way different player than Chris Paul. If you dont understand this, you really dont understand basketball.

Chris Paul is the ultimate PG, floor general and team player. He knows of the play in the flow of the offense and pick his spots, while getting everybody involved.

Harden is much more of a ball dominant, ISO scorer and PnR player. His game is based in being a threat to score. He has elite vision and is a pick and roll maestro, but his assist are much more like Westbrook or Iverson's asissts than Chris Paul or John Stockton.

Harden was done with Brooklyn because they didnt let him hog the ball and build the offense around him.


Also, Chris Paul takes much better care of his body.

Just admit you haven’t seen harden outside of Houston much. He is playing like a pass first true point guard now

[rocketsfan100]

i think his game will age horribly. we all saw the horrors of his decline in the nets.
his game is a lot athleticism and speed based as well he is not crafty as someone like cp3 who is a rare exception.
his next contract will be one of the worst as at age 37 with making over 50mil.

What? Hardens game is based on athleticism? Lol

[sp6r=underrated]

Full disclosure of my opinions on Harden

1. He's an ATG player. All ready he's top 40 at worst and you can make a case he's top 25.
2. He's one of the smartest offensive players in NBA history. He was well ahead of the curve in identifying the most efficient shots in basketball and most efficient players.
3. His playoff struggles are mostly myth. He's actually been a pretty good PS player, just not quite as good in the PS. In that sense he's somewhat related to a guard version of David Robinson.
3. His game is grotesquely ugly. Nearly as ugly as his face. He's not unique among ATG with having a game that is, shall we say, an acquired taste.
4. If you limit yourself to on-court activities, his basketball character is about as bad as they come.

Multiple times he's dogged it to force trades. The first time prior to dogging it, he forced management to trade the 2nd best player on a title contender because he found him grating, admittedly not unique opinion on Paul. When the team declined he dogged it the next year to get trade. He pulled a similar routine on the Nets for different personnel reasons. Very few ATGs forced trades once. Most did with bad management. He's done it twice, 1 time playing with HOFers.

You also get a Barkleyesque commitment to fitness and defensive awareness.

Simply put, I have tons of respect for his ability as a player and overall impact on the game. I also find him unwatchable.

I agree with the OP he'll age very well, for an undersized guard. The history of the NBA is short guards have a shorter lifespan. Paul/Stockton are the exception. The norm is declines similar to Westbrook.

Harden's basketball savantness will allow him to maintain effectiveness. The only risk is that his conditioning will cause his body to give out.

[danvato]

So Harden has 4 good games and now he's not washed anymore? Where is that Tyler Herro thread?

Btw, people calling Harden a "great shooter" have not watched a full basketball game in their life.

[Up-And-Coming]

No player currently in the league will be productive 2nd option on a championship team as 39 year old.

Lebron is 37 years old and would be in the MVP discussion if AD was healthy and we swapped Westbrook for a borderline All-Star that fits (ie. Fred Van-Vleet). Insert 1 starter caliber 3 & D wing and things should be much different. All that to say Lebron is on track to still be one of the top players in a couple seasons (39 years old) barring any significant injury.

[Myth]

Well, his defense will get even worse and most players that age well do so because of taking care of their bodies and contribute without the ball in their hands. He should maintain his shot and passing ability, but lack of off-back movement, defense, and general hustle will be his downfall.

[rocketsfan100]

No player currently in the league will be productive 2nd option on a championship team as 39 year old.

Lebron is 37 years old and would be in the MVP discussion if AD was healthy and we swapped Westbrook for a borderline All-Star that fits (ie. Fred Van-Vleet). Insert 1 starter caliber 3 & D wing and things should be much different. All that to say Lebron is on track to still be one of the top players in a couple seasons (39 years old) barring any significant injury.

Lebron is a freak of nature plus he keeps himself in pristine condition

[picko]

He has a game that will age exceptionally well in a body that will age exceptionally poorly. I'd wager that the latter will more than offset the former and Harden's mid-to-late 30s will get pretty ugly.

[DroseReturnChi]

No player currently in the league will be productive 2nd option on a championship team as 39 year old.

Lebron is 37 years old and would be in the MVP discussion if AD was healthy and we swapped Westbrook for a borderline All-Star that fits (ie. Fred Van-Vleet). Insert 1 starter caliber 3 & D wing and things should be much different. All that to say Lebron is on track to still be one of the top players in a couple seasons (39 years old) barring any significant injury.

Lebron is a freak of nature plus he keeps himself in pristine condition

lebron takes cares of his body and he is already injury prone and barely mvp candidate. harden is far worse he is already breaking down as of now. harden will nowhere be the same caliber at lebron's age.

[Clay Davis]

Love al the Philly fans who started to believe that Harden is a transcendent playmaker the moment he joined their team

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