The NBA has seen a flurry of massive trades this offseason. Several NBA superstars have been on the move over the course of the past few months. Winning a championship in the NBA has become an absolute priority for players, even if they have to ditch loyalty. That has been the case for Philadelphia 76ers star guard, James Harden over the past few years.
James Harden is undoubtedly one of the greatest scorers of all time. The 10-time All-Star has bagged three scoring titles to go with two assist titles on his legendary NBA resume. However, despite having a fabled reputation, Harden has never won an NBA championship. The 6’5 guard played for 4 teams in his career but only has one Finals appearance to show for.
But during his illustrious career, he shared the locker room with the ‘Slim Reaper’, Kevin Durant twice. Now, he has put himself at risk of offending his former teammate in a recent interview.
James Harden risks offending Kevin Durant
James Harden had a tough choice to make in an interview. The former MVP has had a long 14-year career in the NBA so far. He has watched, played with, and against several legends of the game. Whether it was playing pick-up with Kobe Bryant or matching up against LeBron James in the Finals, The Beard has seen it all.
So, picking an all-time starting 5, therefore, may have been a tough task for the 33-year-old.
In a video circulating on Instagram, we can see Harden answering his pick on the “ultimate 5” in the NBA. Although this is an age-old question, the answer has always had NBA players breaking a sweat. It is never easy to pick an ultimate starting 5, given the talent that the NBA possesses.
But, somehow, Harden makes it possible to spell out his choices.
Starting with the point guard among his top 5, Harden picks LeBron James. For shooting guard and small forward, he picks the legends, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, respectively. For a power forward, he picks Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal as the center.
Hands down, this is the most legendary pick-up for the top 5 by anyone. It features all the greatest players ever to play the sport. However, there’s one name Harden probably missed out on – Kevin Durant!
While James did start off with an impressive list, but instead of paying homage to his former teammate, he chooses the Spurs legend, Tim Duncan. Not picking Durant as his power forward could offend the Phoenix Suns forward, given their history.
The Beard and Slim Reaper share a long history
Fans and experts consider Kevin Durant to be one of the greatest power forwards of all time. His shot-making ability seems almost automatic from anywhere on the basketball court. He has built a terrific career himself, also winning two championships during his time with the Golden State Warriors.
However, he tried to strike gold twice with his close friend, James Harden.
Harden and Durant played alongside each other on two different teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets. Despite reaching the playoffs together as part of both teams, the duo could never win the championship together. They also had a terrific Finals run with the Thunder back in 2012. However, the duo had to face the wrath of LeBron James on his revenge tour and the Miami Heat, who took home the championship, sealing the series in 5 games.
The duo has had a long-running friendship despite fluctuating between playing together and apart. The two have had phenomenal individual success, winning MVP awards, getting All-Star nods, and together, making it to the NBA Top 75 list. However, their stints together have always ended in dismay.
With his top 5 list, Harden may have disrespected Durant’s legacy. Despite sharing the locker room and witnessing Durant’s brilliance from up close, Harden made an interesting choice. However, Harden’s focus may not be on offending or pleasing any player right now. With the 2023-24 season creeping up closely, Harden’s priority would be to join the team that is most suited for him and make a championship run.
Source: essentiallysports.com
