DeMarcus Cousins vs James Harden
Two of the most hated villains of the 2010s, side by side. Super-team backlash — and these two wore it loudest.
James Harden
“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.”
DeMarcus Cousins
“Boogie was one of the most talented big men of his generation but also one of the most temperamental. Led the league in technical fouls multiple seasons and never met a referee he liked.”
The Verdict
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Era Context: 2010s
Super-team backlash. LeBron Decision. KD to Golden State. The decade where joining your rivals made you Public Enemy #1.
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