Thought this might make an interesting discussion. 've read/heard a lot of criticism directed at Harden to the effect that he depends on today's rules and couldn't have been as successful in early eras. For sure some of what he does now wouldn't work, but I've always thought saying an intelligent 6'5" 220 student of the game like Harden wouldn't be able to score at a high rate simply because more contact was allowed is idiotic. (Personally, I think guys like Curry would have a much harder time.) That said, f Harden were to time machine back to past eras, whose game do you think his own would ressemble, or if it was all his own, what would it be? I think an Adrian Dantley with better range would be a good comparison.
His game wouldn't reassemble anyone in the 80s because no NBA player in the 80s had the ball handling capabilities of even most D league level guards today let alone one of the top 5 ball handlers in the league.
Harden is a far superior player compared to Dantley. I understand the comparison, both strong, and excellent at drawing fouls and efficient scorers. I have never seen anyone play in the NBA that is all that similar to Harden.
Adrian Dantley was Charles Barkley without the girth. I've posted it before but Barkley's entire post game was a straight up copy of AD. It was basically step back, raise the ball like you are going to shoot, then react one of three ways based on how the defender reacts. Back in the 80's there were a ton of really repetitive post guys. Bernard King was the same. Don't see Harden as much of a post scorer, even in the 80's. More interested in how Harden would look with no beard and a Kid-and-Play high top fade or maybe some of that greasy, greasy A.C. Green Jerry Curl. Funky fresh, undoubtedly.
Dantley was the best 6'5" rebounder in the world not named Barkley. I don't think there was anybody from the 70s like Harden, but John Havlicek comes close.
Harden in the 80's would be hilarious. Imagine what defenders would think seeing guy launching 11+ stepback 3 pointers a game. Imagine how many ankles harden would take doing dribbling moves 80's defenders never seen before. It would be like if you took Lewis Hamilton's F1 car and raced it against 60's F1 cars.
Adrian dantley? Lol Harden is now considered widely as one of the greatest offensive players of any generation and at worst as of now a top 10 of all time and could be top 3 when it’s all said and done. Dantley lol no nice troll attempt
LOL OP think somehow Harden magicly made refs these days call in his favor or made the league change the rules in his favor or combination of both
dantley was one of the most selfish players of his era. harden is a profilic passer creating the most open looks in the league
What parts of Harden’s game would for sure not work? Adrian Dantley? Lol, that is so disrespectful to the Beard. Harden would dominate so easily. He’d probably have fans accusing him of “cheating” like they do now because that’s the only way they’d be able to rationalize his level of dominance.
Exactly what is he doing now that wouldn’t work in the 80’s? Your premise is flawed. The vast majority of his moves would likely be even better than they are today, and he’d probably overshadow Bird and Magic as the greatest player of the 80’s.
If you put lebron in the 80's he'd probably be like Thurl Bailey and Zion Williamson would be Antoine Carr. TRUE FACTS
Maravich, Magic, Isaiah, etc., etc. beg to differ. Handles are obviously much better now overall, but your statement is hyperbolic AF.
Ya, I'm sorry Dleague guards today have more solid handles than those players. That's why when doing player comparisons, we compare how players dominated relatively to their respected era.
if he played in the 80's he wouldn't play like he does now. He wouldn't have trained or worked on his game as much and would have partied more
