Report: James Harden's Lack of Conditioning to Start Season 'Astonished' Kevin Durant

[iLLmatic860]

According to Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN, the "discontent" between the two began when Harden showed up to training camp out of shape. Things didn't improve after a slow start to the 2021-22 season.

"Durant was astonished in the opening weeks of the season at Harden's lack of explosiveness and sluggish play, something he attributed in large part to Harden's being out of shape, as he did the ensuing hamstring issues," Arnovitz reported Tuesday.

The Nets eventually sent Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that brought back Ben Simmons, who has yet to suit up for Brooklyn.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10032415-report-james-hardens-lack-of-conditioning-to-start-season-astonished-kevin-durant

[PD28]

Harden started the season with the Lowry booty lol

[Lunartic]

Harden's hamstring injury got him too big of a pass for his trash conditioning, you can do cardio without stressing your hamstrings

[GSWFan1994]

Everybody knows Harden loves the night life, the clubs, the parties.

Your body reacts differently to this lifestyle once you hit the 30s.

[Run DLC]

Harden is naturally built like CP3, Paul Pierce, Lowry, etc. They have to stay on a strict diet or they’ll instantly balloon up.

[Klayforspicy]

I never accepted the hamstring as an excuse for the obesity because other star players suffered the same kind of injury or worse and were able stay in much more moderate shape.

[chilluminati]

He just needs a wake up call so he can get his priorities straight. He's not a dumb man, but he's a proud man. Unfortunately he probably has an army of Yes Men to keep him delusional.

[RoyceDa59]

For Harden the lifestyle has always been equally as important as his playing career.

There is no going back, he’s soon to be 33. Harden is no longer elite, just get used to it.

[bisme37]

Harden:



KD:

[LofJ]

Luka is the same way, but unlike Harden he's got most of his 20's in front and him and has plenty of time to get more disciplined when it comes to his lifestyle and diet.

Harden needs to remake his body and grow up this summer if he wants to finish up his career the right way.

[Capn'O]

On the one hand, cmon Kevin. You've played with him before. You know who he is. But this is a place where you might actually have sympathy for Durant. Say what you will, but the man came back from an achilles injury as strong as ever. He clearly works his ass off. A basketball junkie through and through. So how's he going to understand a guy that just doesn't go about life that way.

Everybody knows Harden loves the night life, the clubs, the parties.

Your body reacts differently to this lifestyle once you hit the 30s.

You got that right Nothing but herbal tea and occasional light tokes for this party animal now.

[GSWFan1994]

I never accepted the hamstring as an excuse for the obesity because other star players suffered the same kind of injury or worse and were able stay in much more moderate shape.

If you are out of shape and/or overweight, your knees and back are the first to suffer.

One thing leads to another and voila, here comes the hamstring issues.

[GSWFan1994]

On the one hand, cmon Kevin. You've played with him before. You know who he is. But this is a place where you might actually have sympathy for Durant. Say what you will, but the man came back from an achilles injury as strong as ever. A basketball junkie through and through. So how's he going to understand a guy that just doesn't go about life that way.

Everybody knows Harden loves the night life, the clubs, the parties.

Your body reacts differently to this lifestyle once you hit the 30s.

You got that right

Thanks Cap!

You know what, here in Brazil there were many soccer players who went through the same thing... Romário, Ronaldinho Gaúcho for example.

There's a famous story about when Romário was playing for Barcelona, he used to go to the clubs almost every single day of the week, sleeping like 3/4 hours a day... and then came to train in the morning, either missing the session or sleeping in the locker room.

His teammates used to shrug it off, saying "that's usual"... they tolerated that because he was the team's best player and almost always delivered when the time was needed.

So, seeing this Harden situation from afar, I recognized the patterns almost instantly.

Harden's game and productivity will not age well if he doesn't change his ways. His next contract has the potential of being a very burdensome one.

Cheers, my man.

[Larry_Russell]

He just needs a wake up call so he can get his priorities straight. He's not a dumb man, but he's a proud man. Unfortunately he probably has an army of Yes Men to keep him delusional.

He is also a rich man that could probably care less than anything at this point

[zshawn10]

Full context:

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[dhsilv2]

Harden is a guy who plays to play basketball to get in shape...this was NOT the injury and recovery time for that. No shocker on this happening. Hopefully harden gets better but fans going too far here. He takes care of himself at about a 6 for an nba player. At times he seems to really take it serious and other times...well he takes an off season off. it is who he is.

[meekrab]

So you could say... James showed up to training camp soft and needed to Harden?

[jokeboy86]

When it comes to the off-season Harden has always taken the Shaq approach. At some point in the next couple of years like I expect with Lebron, Harden should just probably move to the 4 position. Or maybe they could've when 4's weren't as athletic as they are now.

[mulamutti]

Harden started the season with the Lowry booty lol

Lowry's booty was solid muscle though, developed carefully to handle charges. Lowry was rarely out of shape.

[ATLTimekeeper]

He wasn't very athletic to begin with, but let's not act like he isn't still really impressive for his age. There's like maybe 8 guys that are still stars above 32 in the league, LeBron, Durant, DeRozan, Curry, Butler, Harden, Thompson, Paul. Everyone else is pretty much a role player.