"How a strange bet with his high-school coach helped James Harden master his signature skill"

AvgJoe · Feb 19, 2015

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/strange-bet-high-school-coach-134521373.html

Harden is arguably the toughest player to guard in the NBA because of his ability to hit 3-pointers, get to the rim off the dribble, and, perhaps most importantly, draw fouls at a league-best rate.

This season, Harden is averaging an NBA-best 9.3 free-throw attempts, making a league-leading 8.1 per game. The next-closest free-throw shooter trails Harden by more than 120 attempts.

In Lee Jenkins' profile of Harden on Sports Illustrated, Jenkins describes how when Harden began playing high-school basketball, he was mainly a spot-up shooter, not the unguardable slasher he is today. To bring out the aggressiveness in Harden's game, his high-school coach Scott Pera began challenging Harden with a strange bet:

To turn Harden from a sniper into a driver, Pera put him through daily X-out drills, in which Harden had to convert eight straight layups while Pera punished him with an arm pad. They made a standing bet: If Harden shot more than six free throws in a game, Pera owed him a hamburger; if Harden shot fewer than six, he owed Pera sprints. Harden discovered ways to contort his limbs through and around defenders, collecting whistles and patties.

Harden's high free-throw rate is the result of highly efficient drives. According to NBA.com, Harden has an NBA-best 401 points on drives throughout the season. He also ranks third in the NBA in points per game on drives, with 7.7.

Harden has a bunch of different of moves around the basket. He encourages fouls by stretching his arms out, extending the ball to defenders who often swipe for the ball but foul him instead:

His Euro step often gets him open baskets, but he also uses it to barrel into defenders and draw fouls:

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As Jenkins points out, Harden's game perfectly fits the prototype of what modern NBA offenses look like. He ignores midrange jumpers, takes 3-pointers, gets to the basket, and draws a ton of fouls.

Harden is just 25 and having the best year of his career. His ability to score easily and efficiently is almost mechanical, and it may get only more dangerous as he continues into his prime.
Click to expand...

Now we know why Harden is slightly chubby.

I kid I kid

glimmertwins · Feb 19, 2015

Invisible Fan · Feb 19, 2015

That BR article on Harden implied how close Pera and Harden still are. Seems pretty cool to maintain that kind of relationship.

justtxyank · Feb 19, 2015

Harden's coach bet him that he couldn't stick a dollar bill in a g string?

DaDakota · Feb 19, 2015

Our best player on my son's select basketball team is more of a passer instead of a shooter, but he is by far our best shooter - so he is getting money for points from his folks - and our team is now a lot better with him scoring more often.

DD

Jimes · Feb 19, 2015

Cool read, thanks OP! Interesting coaching technique.

My guess is we're gonna see a whole bunch of copycats coming up. Glad we got the original! (draws fouls better than Manu)

RoxBeliever · Feb 19, 2015

Invisible Fan said: ↑

That BR article on Harden implied how close Pera and Harden still are. Seems pretty cool to maintain that kind of relationship.
Click to expand...

According to a chron.com article, Harden considers Pera a father figure. Harden's biological father was in and out of prison in his younger years.

Harden looks aloof and tough, but he actually is soft-hearted and loyal.

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