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NEW YORK — James Harden said the criticism of his slow start to his 18th season does not bother him, because he has heard a version of it at every scoring level of his career.
He spoke after scoring a season-high 32 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 115-107 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Harden won three scoring titles with the Houston Rockets, averaging 30.4, 36.1, and 34.3 points over three straight seasons, and he said people probably do not understand how his role has changed.
“Still score points, but try to find out other ways to impact the game,” Harden said, according to The Associated Press.
When he averaged in the mid-30s, Harden said, critics said a team could not win that way, and they said the same when he averaged in the 20s. He said he has focused on his conditioning and on learning a style that fits a player who is not as fast as he was five or six years ago.
James Harden Makes 9 Of 14 Shots After Slow Start
Harden entered Wednesday averaging 15.3 points on 34.6% shooting, a mark that would be the lowest of his career, and had five made baskets and six turnovers over his previous two games. Against the Knicks, he made 9 of 14 shots, 5 of 7 three-pointers, and 9 of 11 free throws in 33:26.
“Being aggressive, you know, I put the work in, so it’s only a matter of time before, you know, I get in rhythm,” Harden said in an ESPN walk-off interview. “So, you know, year 18 and taking me a little longer than usual. But eventually, you know, the work will pay off. So eventually, it’ll come around.”
New York tied the game at 99 and again at 101 in the fourth quarter but never led in the period. Harden’s pull-up three with 4:22 left put Cleveland ahead for good.
“Just be resilient,” Harden said. “You know, they’re a great team. They’re the defending champs. I think most importantly, we focus on ourselves and how can we improve every single day. So definitely in a great direction today. Now let’s build on this.”
Mike Brown Explains How Harden Got Going
Harden scored 13 points in the second quarter on 4-of-4 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three-point range, and his 11 free-throw attempts matched the Knicks’ total as a team. Knicks coach Mike Brown discussed Harden’s shooting in his postgame news conference, carried by SNY.
“You know, they hit some big shots, but also I thought he had airspace on his early threes, which gave him confidence and got him going,” Brown said. “And you know, we got to get to his body and make him put the ball on the floor, which we didn’t do a good job of early on. And once that happens now, you know, give a great player that much confidence early in the game. It’s hard to shut that water off.”
Harden Says Cavaliers Are In A Good Space At 6-6
Harden said he is still working out how to play alongside Donovan Mitchell, who had 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Cleveland acquired Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in February, three months before the Knicks swept the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
“We’re in a good space, you know,” Harden said. “Couple losses that we feel like we should have won, but you know, all in all, like we’re in a good space, and I think the most important thing is just trying to get healthy, trying to peak at the right time. So, you know, long season, just chip away.”
The win pulled Cleveland back to .500 at 6-6. The teams meet again Nov. 25 at Madison Square Garden.
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