James Harden's Game Will Age Exceptionally Well

SelfishPlayer · Post #1 » by **SelfishPlayer** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 6:58 pm

This is something that no one has ever said. People are of the opinion of him only having a couple of years left before he becomes fat, slow, unable to produce, and vastly overpaid. Harden is already slow! No one sees the writing on the wall of Harden having perhaps the greatest old man game in NBA history. He never relied upon athleticism, he's always had an old man game. He will just continue to create new tricks that allow him to produce until age 39-40+.

timO · Post #2 » by **timO** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:14 pm

he cant slash and go for FT with 35+

Philly has a 2-3 year window, thats all

JN61 · Post #3 » by **JN61** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:16 pm

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

76thBearCub · Post #4 » by **76thBearCub** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:20 pm

JN61 wrote:No player currently in the league will be productive 2nd option on a championship team as 39 year old.

He can shift to 3rd when Maxey decides to make an all NBA team.

Roscoe Sheed · Post #5 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:22 pm

He is very skilled, but his game does depend on some level of quickness. Also, he doesn't seem to take good care of his body- that could become more of a problem as he ages.

elchengue20 · Post #6 » by **elchengue20** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:27 pm

I get what you saying but this is a bad take. As a Sixers fan i would love to believe you, but i just dont see it.

Harden as any guard still needs explosiveness to blow past defenders, and you can already see that its declining. He still can get away with it most of the time because hes crafty as hell, but it will get to a point where he just wont de able to do it anymore.

Also, he has never taken care of his body, so this will become a problem exponentially bigger as he ages. He already is on the load management program when only 2 seasons ago he was an ironman.

We have this season, next season and maaaybe the other one to win a championship with Harden. After that there is no chance hes still a top 10-15 NBA player.

DaPessimist · Post #7 » by **DaPessimist** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:28 pm

The real problem with getting old is injuries. They happen more often and they heal a lot slower. Especially if you don't take care of your body.

stormi · Post #8 » by **stormi** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:32 pm

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.

SelfishPlayer · Post #9 » by **SelfishPlayer** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:34 pm

elchengue20 wrote:I get what you saying but this is a bad take. As a Sixers fan i would love to believe you, but i just dont see it.

Harden as any guard still needs explosiveness to blow past defenders, and you can already see that its declining. He still can get away with it most of the time because hes crafty as hell, but it will get to a point where he just wont de able to do it anymore.

Also, he has never taken care of his body, so this will become a problem exponentially bigger has he ages. He already is on the load management program when only 2 seasons ago he was an ironman.

We have this season, next season and maaaybe the other one to win a championship with Harden. After that there is no chance hes still a top 10-15 NBA player.

The Bucks just won a CHIP, how many top 10-15 players did they have? The Spurs? The Mavs?

kingmalaki · Post #10 » by **kingmalaki** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:37 pm

Some questioned this? He is an elite passer and he can shoot. Guys like that can play till they are almost 40.

SelfishPlayer · Post #11 » by **SelfishPlayer** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:43 pm

stormi wrote: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.

Harden's aging has more in common with elite NFL pocket quarterbacks. He's a threat to get an assist from every area of the entire basketball court, he shoots excellently off of the catch, and he can operate the pick & roll exceptionally well negating the need to create his own space moving forward approaching 39-40. People don't know the game, you do...

Ballerhogger · Post #12 » by **Ballerhogger** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:47 pm

He will be slower if he takes care of of his body can play at elite level until 35

SelfishPlayer · Post #13 » by **SelfishPlayer** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 7:58 pm

Harden is so great that he may in the next several seasons morph into a 50-40-90 guy then into a 50-50-90 guy. Who knows, he's great, meaning he will develop a solution, it will be exciting to watch. He is currently at 59-50-90 over his first four games with the Sixers.

bbalnation · Post #14 » by **bbalnation** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 8:02 pm

I dont remember a player whos career relies so heavily on the direction of league officiating.

I dont reckon thats too great in the long term.

They're gonna dominate the next couple years though.

Rendei · Post #15 » by **Rendei** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 8:06 pm

stormi wrote: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.

Chris Paul and Lebron take great care of their bodies, which has enabled them to play longer. Paul in particular looked done before he went entirely to a plant based diet. Remember how he was just a bloated contract going to OKC? Harden will need a serious change of lifestyle if he wants to still be great in his mid to late 30's.

CobraCommander · Post #16 » by **CobraCommander** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 8:38 pm

76thBearCub wrote:
JN61 wrote:No player currently in the league will be productive 2nd option on a championship team as 39 year old.

He can shift to 3rd when Maxey decides to make an all NBA team.

The drugs in Philly are clearly more potent than what we have in DC.

Harden barely wants to work out now.

What you think 38 year old harden gonna do when TheNewBaby needs to do an all-nighter before a playoff game? That’s right...stay up with thenewbaby

CobraCommander · Post #17 » by **CobraCommander** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 8:42 pm

Ballerhogger wrote:He will be slower if he takes care of of his body can play at elite level until 35

This dude taking care of his body...lol

Dude is already skinny fat

TheLand13 · Post #18 » by **TheLand13** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 9:30 pm

stormi wrote: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.

He doesn't have the basketball IQ that Chris Paul does. And Chris Paul actually plays defense.

clippertown · Post #19 » by **clippertown** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 9:38 pm

Harden reacts so quickly when he gets the ball that it takes defenders by surprise. His forcefulness and strength when driving to the hoop give defenders nightmares. His quickness and first step strength will decline as he gets older. If he cannot beat his opponent off the dribble and he cannot force defenders away while driving, his game will have to adjust dramatically.

elchengue20 · Post #20 » by **elchengue20** » Sat Mar 5, 2022 11:19 pm

stormi wrote: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.