Do you think James Harden will get a pass for quitting on Houston Rockets if he wins a Championship like Kawhi?

Drygon · Post #1 » by **Drygon** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:21 pm

During 2017-18 season, Kawhi completely ghosted his team and stopped communicating with the coaches. He quit on the season, then immediately demanded a trade from Spurs through the media.

People were angry about it, but Kawhi instantly won NBA Championship for Raptors in following year. People showered Kawhi with tons of love and his reputation looked much better.

Do you think James Harden will get the same treatment if he wins a Championship this season?

Big J · Post #2 » by **Big J** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:23 pm

Dr Aki · Post #3 » by **Dr Aki** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:24 pm

Why wouldn't he?

Marvin Martian · Post #4 » by **Marvin Martian** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:25 pm

Harden didn't quit on the Rockets. The Rockets quit on him

Drygon · Post #5 » by **Drygon** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:27 pm

Marvin Martian wrote:Harden didn't quit on the Rockets. The Rockets quit on him

dans1230 · Post #6 » by **dans1230** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:28 pm

His former Rocket teammates are clapping back at him a bit in public, thats kinda rare. I know same thing happened to Kawhi, but Kawhi went to Toronto and lead them to a championship. Harden wont be leading them, he will be following Durant. I think Harden has damaged his reputation quite a bit here.

theforumblue · Post #7 » by **theforumblue** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:28 pm

as bad as harden has been, it's not even close to what kawhi did.

theonlyclutch · Post #8 » by **theonlyclutch** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:31 pm

AD's image looks just fine after his crew basically forced NOP to deal him to the Lakers just in 2019...

Harden's gonna be fine if the trade brings a ring to the nets, remember all that "playoff choker" ish also washes off real nice with a ring in hand.

jokeboy86 · Post #9 » by **jokeboy86** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:31 pm

Marvin Martian wrote:Harden didn't quit on the Rockets. The Rockets quit on him

Bergmaniac · Post #10 » by **Bergmaniac** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:32 pm

Absolutely, nobody will remember it in 3 years.

Johnny Fontane · Post #11 » by **Johnny Fontane** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:33 pm

Still a drop in the hat compared to KD hopping on the 73 win Warriors

celticfan42487 · Post #12 » by **celticfan42487** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:33 pm

He's a 31 year old MVP and it's the first time he's forced his way off the team in a timeline that allowed them to get a good haul.

That's okay and always has been.

He's not LeBron in his early prime colluding with the other best young pieces in the world, or a Kawhi quitting on a contender and forcing his way off, a KD being the biggest **** snake in the world and destorying his elite team to go join the people that beat him up 3-1 in the WCF, a Paul George signing a long term max contract demanding a trade the next season, or an AD forcing his team to only work with one team while never bringing any success to it.

AbeVigodaLive · Post #13 » by **AbeVigodaLive** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:35 pm

dans1230 wrote:His former Rocket teammates are clapping back at him a bit in public, thats kinda rare. I know same thing happened to Kawhi, but Kawhi went to Toronto and lead them to a championship. Harden wont be leading them, he will be following Durant. I think Harden has damaged his reputation quite a bit here.

That shouldn't matter.

Quitting on your former team should be ripped... whether that guy wins a title as lead dog elsewhere or not. It doesn't change the narrative of what he did.

The only exception to this is if a 2nd fiddle wanted more clout with a team... they refused him... then he proved he could lead another team to a title elsewhere. That's not the case with Leonard and Harden. Both were lead dog dinks.

Tor_Raps · Post #14 » by **Tor_Raps** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:36 pm

People have short memories. People already forgot about Durant and his antics by going to Gstate. There will always be something else for people to be angry at.

Drygon · Post #15 » by **Drygon** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:45 pm

dans1230 wrote:His former Rocket teammates are clapping back at him a bit in public, thats kinda rare. I know same thing happened to Kawhi, but Kawhi went to Toronto and lead them to a championship. Harden wont be leading them, he will be following Durant. I think Harden has damaged his reputation quite a bit here.

Kawhi's reputation was also damanged like Harden until he earned 2019 Championship.

I can't think any player whose reputation got better after quitting on his team and didn't got a Championship out of it.

Drygon · Post #16 » by **Drygon** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:56 pm

Tor_Raps wrote:People have short memories. People already forgot about Durant and his antics by going to Gstate. There will always be something else for people to be angry at.

At least KD was a free agent unlike Kawhi & Harden.

art_tatum · Post #17 » by **art_tatum** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:57 pm

Drygon wrote:
dans1230 wrote:His former Rocket teammates are clapping back at him a bit in public, thats kinda rare. I know same thing happened to Kawhi, but Kawhi went to Toronto and lead them to a championship. Harden wont be leading them, he will be following Durant. I think Harden has damaged his reputation quite a bit here.

Kawhi's reputation was also damanged like Harden until he earned 2019 Championship.

I can't think any player whose reputation got better after quitting on his team and didn't got a Championship out of it.

And if kawhi/clippers keep choking the spurs situation will be brought up even more.
You have to keep winning in the what have you done for me recently world.

Tor_Raps · Post #18 » by **Tor_Raps** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:58 pm

Drygon wrote:
Tor_Raps wrote:People have short memories. People already forgot about Durant and his antics by going to Gstate. There will always be something else for people to be angry at.

At least KD was a free agent unlike Kawhi & Harden.

Do you think that got him less backlash than the other 2? Durant was vilified for 3 years and even his own scrubby teammate in Green.

Danny1616 · Post #19 » by **Danny1616** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:58 pm

Harden has acted terribly but it's a different situation.

Kawhi was groomed by the Spurs big 3 and Pops. He won a championship with them and finals MVP. He played on a 60+ win team that was in the conference finals before he got hurt.

Harden was traded to Houston when they were a below average team. He helped them become a contender but they just could never get over the hump. They have had multiple playoff disappointments.

G35 · Post #20 » by **G35** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:59 pm

Pass for what?

If it is the ending of the relationship with the Rockets, in a few years, yeah.

If it is whether he can leader of a team, that he can play team defense, that his style of play works in the playoffs...no it will not.....