James Harden
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James Harden
Harden turned basketball into a free throw shooting contest and somehow made it boring to watch one of the most skilled ...
WHY WE HATE HIM
Harden turned basketball into a free throw shooting contest and somehow made it boring to watch one of the most skilled players ever. His head-snapping, arm-hooking, foul-baiting style made games unwatchable. Then he developed a pattern of giving up on teams when things got tough - quitting on OKC, demanding out of Houston, and checking out in Brooklyn. He's the master of putting up empty stats while his teams underachieve in the playoffs.
VILLAIN RESUME
TIMELINE OF TERROR
Oklahoma City Exit
Left Thunder after Finals appearance, refusing to accept sixth man role and forcing trade to Houston.
Clippers Collapse
Disappeared in Game 5 vs. Clippers, shooting 2-11 with 13 turnovers in one of the worst playoff meltdowns ever.
Flopping Master
Perfected the art of drawing fouls through exaggerated contact, leading league in free throw attempts.
Houston Strip Club Saga
Partied at strip clubs during COVID-19 restrictions while holding out from Rockets, forcing Brooklyn trade.
Hamstring Injury
Injured hamstring in playoffs, effectively ending Nets championship hopes in controversial circumstances.
Forced Trade to Philly
Demanded trade from Nets after just one season, joining his fourth team in three years.
Called Daryl Morey a Liar
Publicly blasted 76ers president on Instagram Live, forcing another trade to the Clippers.
The legend continues... More villain moments to come.
GREATEST VILLAIN MOMENT
"Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals will live in infamy. Harden scored 9 points on 3-11 shooting in an elimination game at home, looking disinterested and defeated. After spending all season talking about championship aspirations, he no-showed when it mattered most. The image of him sitting on the bench with his head down while the crowd booed captured everything wrong with his playoff legacy."
THE DEFENSE
Harden revolutionized offensive basketball and was consistently one of the most productive players for a decade. His step-back three became unstoppable, and he carried mediocre Houston teams to playoff contention. The foul-drawing was smart basketball within the rules, and rule changes weren't his fault. He's faced historically great teams in his prime and still produced at an elite level throughout his career.
VILLAIN ANALYTICS
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NBA Career Highlights
Performance Over Time
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