Cleveland Cavaliers star James Harden, like NFL quarterbacks, is tasked with making tough decisions.
Cleveland Cavaliers star James Harden is one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history. The future Hall of Famer holds career averages of 24.1 points and 7.3 assists per game and he's a three-time scoring champion and two-time assists champion.
Harden has been the primary decision-maker for his team since the 2012-13 season. The 11-time All-Star compared himself to NFL quarterbacks during a recent conversation with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson.
"You got Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes," Harden said. "Those are some of the greats with their playmaking. All those guys have decisions to make in every possession, other than a handoff, their passing. It's a split second, so those are the guys that have to make a decision.
"I don't even know how many times they pass the ball, but it's difficult, it's not easy. Some people that are really great decision makers, under pressure can think that fast, and some people just aren't, so it's a tough situation to be in. But the ones that are good at it, they excel."
Harden is averaging 8.2 assists per game this season in 50 games with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cavaliers. In six games with Cleveland, Harden is putting up 8.7 assists per game.
"It's not an easy job to be a decision maker," Harden said. "Not even just in sports and life. You know how many, some people make not great decisions, and good things don’t happen. They make really good decisions and good things happen, so, yeah, just try. I gotta be better, and I will be."
The Cavaliers are 5-1 with Harden in the lineup. Harden is averaging 18.7 points and 8.7 assists per game with the Wine and Gold. He's averaging only 3.3 turnovers per game.
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.
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