Since being traded to the Nets, James Harden has played at his usual MVP-caliber level, propelling Brooklyn to the top of the Eastern Conference. While there will be plenty of debate down the stretch over who should win the 2020/21 NBA MVP, for Harden, the answer is clear.
“I feel like I am the MVP,” Harden said after the Nets’ win over the Pistons Friday night, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes. “It’s that simple. I don’t want to speak individually on myself.”
In 31 games with Brooklyn, Harden has averaged 26.0 PPG, 11.4 APG and 7.9 RPG to go along with 13 triple-doubles. With extended absences from his other star teammates in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Harden has at times shouldered much of the responsibility in carrying the team.
“Numbers are showing it for itself, and we’re winning,” Harden said. “That’s all I can say.”
Check out more news and notes from New York’s teams:
- Despite Harden’s value to the team on the court, head coach Steve Nash says he has considered reducing the star guard’s minutes a little to lower his burden, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. “I’m concerned about the minutes,” Nash said. “I’m not sure what the answer is, though. He controls the game. He hasn’t shot the ball well since the [All-Star] break, but he [makes 3s], he gets to the line. He makes assists, rebounds, steals. He’s great around the basket. … So it’s hard to take him off the floor because he makes his teammates better.”
- In a separate story, Lewis details a whirlwind that brought Alize Johnson from his mother’s house to Utah to debut for the Nets following the conclusion of the G League season. Johnson had a strong debut for Brooklyn and has a chance to stick around beyond his first 10-day pact.
- The Knicks had a relatively uneventful trade deadline and, despite various rumors, stayed away from acquiring any of the top available players. As Marc Berman of the New York Post writes, the quiet deadline gives New York flexibility both in free agency this summer and in the buyout market in the weeks ahead.
If you are not a good team, you don’t do anything on TD
I give you a grade lower than F
I’m sure many of them will be contemplating harikari since they didn’t score higher on your made up scale.
Ummmm does that mean good teams only deal with other good teams? They don’t trade draft capital for players to help this this year?
I mean the wolves doing nothing baffling and the knicks should’ve tried to upgrade which I’m sure they did, but an nba gms job isn’t contingent upon making deals for deals sake at the deadline
“True wisdom is avoiding harmful affects as much as it is pursuing beneficial ones.”
– James Dolan
Knicks showed once again they are content with being above average…
Considering that they have been below average for the past two decades or so, I think above average is very good for them. People think that if you don’t go from worst to first, then you are a failure. But climbing the ladder toward the top is a success too
Exactly.
Knicks haven’t made the playoffs since 13-14 — back in those halcyon days Steph Curry was closer to JJ Redick than a franchise cornerstone, Donald Trump was a reality TV executive, TikTok was something a clock said, and people under 65 still used Facebook.
Being above average is a nice change of pace.
Wisdom of a true bandwagon ….. your team plays in a stadium where all the fans root for the other team. That’s never been heard of in the history of sports.
When they’ve been terrible for a decade and are smack in the middle of a massive re-build, yes, I would say they’re absolutely content with being above average and as a fan so am I.
Just because the Knicks are a couple of games over .500 doesn’t make them an above average team. They’re just barely average this season, at best.
True there are differing definitions of avg/above avg. I think we all can agree the Rockets are trash though.
“It’s that simple. I don’t want to speak individually on myself.”
You just did.
IMO
Knicks should trade Frank the Tank Jr and Pistons second round pick to Magic for Evan Fournier
Way too late for that Sill
Someone needs to reset the clock of Sillibot.
yup looks like the silli algorithm is suggesting alex jones again
you get an F for that post.
I think the Knicks should trade a couple of firsts for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar…
Ignoring that this trade is physically impossible considering Fournier is not on the Magic, offering Frank and a second rounder would have earned you a well-deserved dial tone from the Magic.
Anyone who demands a trade because they don’t like their old team is disqualified from MVP
Lol ok. Then anyone who takes non-basketball reasons into consideration for a basketball award is disqualified from voting.
Most Volume Player …… nothing but Noise comes out of Nets. How long did it take Harden to start taking credit for the Nets ….. Drummond better not go there. Then “The Big Noise” will go silent …… Harden has never won anything in his life. Except alienating the most teammates.
Gobert should be the MVP.
Considering that Gobert is not good scoring & he can’t defend for his life, only bad centers he can deal with, when he plays the top guys they absolutely & totally annihilate him… how can he be a serious MVP candidate?!?!?
The only MVP candidates are Jokic, Giannis, Embiid, Harden & Luka as a matter of fact!
Knicks have 3 picks in the top 32 in 2021 NBA draft. We have 50 mill in cap space even if we sign Drummond. We have one of youngest teams in NBA. Why would we need to make a trade. Out of all of players traded. The most ever on TD in NBA. Who is the one we should of picked up. Hmmmmmmmm
Yup no no no no nobody. Any player we want or need we can go after in FA. Fournier, Ball, Dinwiddie these are only ones that can help Knicks. Not really a Ball guy. Rebuilding is about big picture not about making trades after 44 gms. All about the draft for us. Come see me then.
It would help if the Knicks had a single star player on their team.
Getting rid of Rivers and Iggy were good moves but adding more shooting and/or playmaking by trading Frank and Know would have been nice. The Dennis Smith trade was excellent as well, would have liked to see them unload more unproductive players though.
We have expiring contracts. We can do it in off season. Just think about 3 picks in top 32 in draft. There could be a big name coming next yr. People just don’t get it. It’s only been 44 gms with Thibs.