James Harden and LeBron James have similar traits, says Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson was a guest on ESPN and the reigning Coach of the Year was asked about his new star, James Harden.
Atkinson, who has coached several superstars in the NBA, compared Harden to the one and only LeBron James.
Harden has appeared in seven games with the Cavaliers, who acquired the future Hall of Famer from the Los Angeles Clippers on February 4.
Thus far, Cleveland is 6-1 with Harden in the lineup. The 2018 MVP is averaging 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game with the Cavaliers. He's shooting 49.4% from the field, 48.8% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
Cleveland is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The team has looked like a championship contender with Harden in the fold alongside Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Harden has a nondisplaced fracture of his right thumb, but the good news? He won't require surgery.
"I looked at his thumb and it looked like my finger when I broke it. So instantly I knew that something was wrong," Allen said about Harden's injury. "I was waiting to see he was going to play through it or that he was talking about it, but it's just one of those things in this league where people go down, but you have to keep continuing."
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. The 11-time All-Star turns 37 in August.
Harden is making $39.4 million this season, with $13.3 million of his $42.3 million salary for next season guaranteed. Harden had sought more security in negotiations with the Clippers last offseason, but Los Angeles declined to offer him a longer-term deal because of his age and an organizational prioritization of long-term flexibility.
The Cavaliers are widely expected to sign Harden to a new deal this offseason. The Arizona State product holds career averages of 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. He's still looking to win his first NBA championship.
Cleveland hasn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2018. It will be interesting to see how far the team goes in the 2026 playoffs.
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