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[The Athletic] Harden 33rd Best All-Time... Quitten as 32nd

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by lnchan, Jan 6, 2022.

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  1. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

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    https://theathletic.com/3048966/202...ne-of-the-nbas-most-gifted-offensive-players/
    At No. 33, James Harden evolved from sixth man into one of the NBA’s most gifted offensive players
    Back in October, James Harden couldn’t believe he had been named by the NBA as one of the league’s greatest players for its 75th anniversary.

    “Ever?” Harden asked. Then a pause. Then, raising his eyebrows. “Wow.” Another pause. “Wow.”

    So why would a guy who led the league in scoring three times, led the league in assists in 2017 and won NBA MVP in 2018 be surprised that people consider him one of the best ever to lace ’em up? Maybe he never anticipated such an honor because just making the NBA seemed like an unlikely concept when he was younger.

    https://theathletic.com/3045904/202...-the-nbas-best-all-around-players-wasnt-easy/
    At No. 32, Scottie Quitten’s journey to becoming one of the NBA’s best all-around [quitters] wasn’t easy
     
    #1 lnchan, Jan 6, 2022
  2. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    if u saw Harden ever being a superstar, MVP, or all-time great, raise your hand

    he really has shattered all expectations…dudes thought he’d be Joe Johnson at best at the time of the the trade, the receipts are here
     
    #2 Reeko, Jan 6, 2022
    sTeKcOr22, KelvinCato13, Ubiquitin and 7 others like this.
  3. burnshroom

    burnshroom Member

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    Off topic, but does anyone have the entire list?
     
    #3 burnshroom, Jan 6, 2022
  4. Nook

    Nook Member

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    He is really even better than the 33rd best player ever.... had he been on the Lakers or Warriors, he would have multiple titles and be in the top 15 and in discussion for the top 10 ever.

    Over his 9 seasons with the Rockets he averaged 30/8/6/2

    His 36.1 scoring average season a few years ago is the second highest in 60 years, trailing Jordan's best season by less than a point. The next season, while playing injured he came back at over 34 a game, and that is the 7th best in the last 60 years. His two year average of over 35 points a game is the highest in the modern NBA.

    He lead the NBA in win shares 5 times in 6 seasons

    He has finished no worse than 9th in win shares every season in the NBA that he has been a starter.

    He has led the league in VORP 4 times.

    He has made 9 straight all star games.

    He was All NBA First team 6 straight seasons.

    He finished 1st or second in scoring 6 straight seasons.

    He has finished in the top 10 in assists 9 straight seasons.

    Even thought he stated out as a bench player, his career scoring average is 11th all time.

    He has led the league in free throw attempts 7 straight seasons.

    Every year he has been a starter in the NBA he has been 1th or better in player efficiency.

    He is #20 all time in VORP and WS even though he has at least 3-4 more years to play.....

    He is likely to finish in the top 5-7 all time in VORP and top 10 all time in WS (assuming he retires in 3-4 years).
     
    #4 Nook, Jan 6, 2022
    PiPdAdY33, gotsis, Deuce and 13 others like this.
  5. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

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    No. 75: Lenny Wilkens
    No. 74: Robert Parish
    No. 73: Pete Maravich
    No. 72: Jerry Lucas
    No. 71: Alex English
    No. 70: Hal Greer
    No. 69: Alonzo Mourning
    No. 68: Damian Lillard
    No. 67: Nate “Tiny” Archibald
    No. 66: Billy Cunningham
    No. 65: Chris Webber
    No. 64: Bill Walton
    No. 63: Carmelo Anthony
    No. 62: Dennis Rodman
    No. 61: Dolph Schayes
    No. 60: Wes Unseld
    No. 59: James Worthy
    No. 58: Earl Monroe
    No. 57: Dave Cowens
    No. 56: Dwight Howard
    No. 55: Tracy McGrady
    No. 54: Bob McAdoo
    No. 53: Anthony Davis
    No. 52: Ray Allen
    No. 51: Dominique Wilkins
    No. 50: Paul Pierce
    No. 49: Kevin McHale
    No. 48: Gary Payton
    No. 47: Reggie Miller
    No. 46: Russell Westbrook
    No. 45: Walt Frazier
    No. 44: Willis Reed
    No. 43: Clyde Drexler
    No. 42: George Gervin
    No. 41: Elvin Hayes
    No. 40: Allen Iverson
    No. 39: Bob Cousy
    No. 38: Steve Nash
    No. 37: Patrick Ewing
    No. 36: Jason Kidd
     
    #5 lnchan, Jan 6, 2022
    FrontRunner, burnshroom and Juxtaposed Jolt like this.
  6. Juxtaposed Jolt

    Juxtaposed Jolt Member

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    Imagine Jordan and Harden on the same team, both in their primes. Best duo in NBA history and it wouldn't even be close.
     
    #6 Juxtaposed Jolt, Jan 6, 2022
  7. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

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    #7 lnchan, Jan 6, 2022
    burnshroom likes this.
  8. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Lebron had a hard time on the Lakers winning titles.

    Only Shaq and Zen Master did the three peat paired with Young Kobe.

    He would have multiple Allstars to play alongside with.
     
    #8 daywalker02, Jan 6, 2022
  9. apollo33

    apollo33 Member

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    With 1 Championship Harden would jump many spots
     
    #9 apollo33, Jan 6, 2022
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  10. Nook

    Nook Member

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    Give me Harden and Frazier and you likely win 4-5 titles..... Frazier was about as good a secondary player as you will ever find an

    LeBron was pretty old when he went to the Lakers, and the first season was a wash with injuries.

    9 years on the Lakers, and prime Harden likely wins at least 2-3 titles..... think about it like this. If I tell you that the Lakers are going to get a player that averages 30/8/6/2 for nearly a decade and will play almost every game.... how many titles do you think they win? Especially in an era of free agency like we have had.

    It's all projecting anyway, but I think it is reasonable.
     
    #10 Nook, Jan 6, 2022
    PiPdAdY33 and jiggyfly like this.
  11. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    What I have been saying, even the mighty Lakers cannot choose stars in their absolute prime or a young superstar every time.
     
    #11 daywalker02, Jan 6, 2022
  12. HardenVolumeOne

    HardenVolumeOne Member

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    facts, he is miles better than pippen
     
    #12 HardenVolumeOne, Jan 6, 2022
  13. blahblehblah

    blahblehblah Member

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    The Athletic having Harden at 32 is in line with all the previous list I've seen (around the mid 30's).

    As far as best duo in NBA history.

    Jordan + Hakeem is easily the one that I'd take before any other (for any era or rules).
     
    #13 blahblehblah, Jan 6, 2022
    Jontro, juanm34, Caesar and 3 others like this.
  14. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

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    Melo is better than Pippen.
     
    #14 KingCheetah, Jan 6, 2022
    Jontro likes this.
  15. jiggyfly

    jiggyfly Member

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    I can't believe they actually ranked him over Leonard.

    Not that I think it's wrong, but Leonard was being discussed in the Durant, Lebron convo a couple of years ago.
     
    #15 jiggyfly, Jan 6, 2022
  16. apollo33

    apollo33 Member

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    Yeah but you are quickly forgotten when you don't play.
     
    #16 apollo33, Jan 6, 2022
  17. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

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    Well Scottie refused to play because of Kukoc getting that final shot
     
    #17 lnchan, Jan 6, 2022
  18. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

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    There is absolutely no weakness in that duo.
     
    #18 lnchan, Jan 6, 2022
  19. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    definitely not.

    why do people ignore defense?
     
    #19 JayZ750, Jan 6, 2022
    PiPdAdY33, Milos, juanm34 and 1 other person like this.
  20. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

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    Exactly, people ignored Melo's all NBA defense year after year.
     
    #20 KingCheetah, Jan 6, 2022
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