The thread is not the same because harden has led the rockets to the western conference finals. Drexler went to 2 as a rocket. Did you not know that?
Because you want to compare great players to great players. You don't think harden is great yet? There's another thread here already for that
There was a time that the debate was who is better Clyde or Jordan. It was a real debate in the early 90's. Eventually, with Jordan soaring to another stratosphere, that debate was settled on the NBA Finals stage. But Drexler was awesome. I remember when the Rockets traded for him, it was known that he was already on a downturn of his career. He was regarded as a fringe all-star. But when he played for he Rockets, he was special. He could do everything so easy, and he went 100% each play. Unfortunately Barkley soured the parade. Instead of complimenting Hakeem as Clyde had done, he took the spotlight all to himself, which screwed everything up!!! Clyde gets points for being the ultimate teammate, he yielded to Hakeem's talent. And he made it work. Harden might have better numbers, but points must be given to Clyde for accepting a secondary role.
No, it wasn't. The debate was whether Drexler might be the 2nd best player in the league behind Jordan. It was pretty short lived. I remember having a debate about who was better between Drexler and Joe Dumars.
Everyone overlooks how great Malone was... And even forgets/didn't know he played for the Rockets. I wish he won a title here in 81... but as far as his individual play it was off the charts. Man if only nba greats back then got the tv/media time like players do now... I mean sure there's old games to watch, but there wasn't the coverage there is now.
Well, I must admit, I was in middle school when this debate was going on. And maybe we were stupid middle school kids, but amongst us kids, the debate was rampant. But I'll add that the debate centered around the fact that both great players, one was a team player and the other was a ball hog.
Drexler took two portland teams to the finals and he was their best player. Isiah was better than Dumars
They played in different eras and at different points in their careers. Different rules, different styles, different opponents, different teammates, different team needs. It's just silly. It just reduces players to stats. Clyde is a HOFer who led Portland to near greatness and won a ring in Houston. I just don't think it's fair to compare Harden at this point in his career.
This. For instance, in Clyde's era, the 3-pointer was thought of as a gimmick and was rarely taken. Harden attempted more threes in his rookie season than in Clyde's first five seasons combined. How would Clyde's old school approach to the game work in the modern era? Would Harden get to the free throw line as often as he does if he played in 80s? This is akin to comparing an old sports car to a new one... just plain silly (and pointless).
It's a bait thread and you know it. And no skit Sherlock. Harden keeps this up, win a few Chips, he will be a HOF'er just like Clyde. But sir he has a ways to go.
Historically Clyde is still the better & more accomplished player obviously if Harden was to retire today and be compared side by side. As far as tenure withe the Rockets its obvious IMO that Harden has probably already surpassed Clyde mostly because of the load he's carried for the team the past couple years while Clyde, although we don't win a championship without him, didn't carry that kind of load. Clyde is an important part of Rockets & Houston's sports history though of course. The book for James Harden is still being written. We can't really have an accurate comparison until James retires.
For their Rockets career? Harden is in another stratosphere. Drexler played around 200 games for the Rockets. He rode Hakeem's coattails to the championship. The only reason he is considered elite (Rocket career wise) is because he is a UH alum. Thats it. It's an insult to even insinuate that somehow Harden has to surpass Drexler just because he has a championship. Should he also have to surpass Sam Cassell as well?
Im baiting the posters who know Clyde Drexler the player and champion is, not baiting the guppies who don't like winners