New Cavaliers Forward Mario Hezonja Showers James Harden With Strong Praise

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Mario Hezonja in the offseason and the swingman is excited to play with James Harden. 

Hezonja recently showered Harden with strong praise, saying the lefty could be a Hall of Famer at two different positions. 

“Back in the day, I was at the two and he was the two shooting guard. So for me it’s like oh like I’m one of the best in history at the two, so let me go and switch position at the one and I’ll try to be the best in history at that too," Hezonja said about Harden. "So this is how I imagine him right now basically there’s two of him. And both of those are Hall of Fame positions that what he’s doing.

"So I guess now like that he wants to win so so bad, I guess, you know, just seeing that the intelligence like bursting out of him, you know, that he wants to get guys going, help everybody, that everything looks good, that everything everybody is competitive, which is going to, you know, today you have to, everybody wins with the deep roster, you know. So I think he understands that right now like obviously I remember him as a, you know, a 60-point triple-double type of player right now, but like to see this version as well of him, it just speaks wonders about how a Hall of Fame type of player can adapt to different teammates, different teams, different situations, so extraordinary player.”

The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the LA Clippers last season. Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game for Cleveland in the regular season and 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs.

Cleveland defeated the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons to reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 1992 without LeBron James on the roster.

The New York Knicks, who won the 2026 championship against the San Antonio Spurs, swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals.

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will start Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen this season. On paper, that's a talented starting five. 

Cleveland acquired Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a sign-and-trade deal. Harden recruited Watson to the Cavaliers. 

One of the best players in NBA history, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in the regular season and 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in the playoffs.

A top-75 player of all time, Harden has made 11 All-Star teams and eight All-NBA teams. He won the 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year award with the Thunder and the 2017-18 MVP award with the Rockets.

The Cavaliers begin this season on the road against LeBron and the 76ers. That will be an electric atmosphere.  

It will be fascinating to see if Harden wins an NBA title before retiring. He made the NBA Finals in 2012, a series the Thunder lost to LeBron and the Miami Heat in five games.