Newly Minted All-Star James Harden Is Rewriting The Brooklyn Nets’ Record Book

When the Brooklyn Nets acquired James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets final month, it sparked every kind of questions and jokes across the NBA.

The frequent theme of all of them was: How are Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving going to share only one basketball?

Greater than a month after the deal, Harden, Durant and Irving are all headed to the NBA All-Star Recreation, the Nets have the NBA’s sixth-best document, and Harden is laughing the loudest as he actually rewrites the Nets’ document e-book.

On the identical day he was named an All-Star for the ninth straight season, Harden notched his sixth triple-double as a Internet (29 factors, 11 boards, 14 assists) in Brooklyn’s 127-118 win over the Kings.

“James, I imply, clearly an All-Star, all-world participant has introduced a lot to our group: management, playmaking and scoring the ball,” Brooklyn coach Steve Nash told reporters Tuesday. “He’s been excellent. We’re grateful to have him.”

After essentially switching positions with Irving, Harden has turn into the unquestioned level guard and playmaker for the Nets, concurrently working to make his teammates higher whereas additionally stepping as much as take over video games when wanted.

Listed below are some notable numbers on Harden up to now:

• The Nets are 14-5 since buying Harden, have gained seven straight and at the moment are a half-game behind first-place Philadelphia within the East.
• Harden has now moved into sole possession of second place in franchise historical past in triple-doubles, trailing solely Jason Kidd (61). Remember that Kidd performed 506 profession video games for the Nets — and Harden has performed 19.
• On Tuesday, Harden notched 18 factors, 5 boards and 10 assists within the first half, turning into the primary participant this season, and the primary Internet since Jason Kidd (second half, at Toronto) on January 8, 2006, to document 15-plus factors, 5 or extra boards and 10-plus assists in a half, per Nets PR.
• Harden has 220 assists in 19 video games with the Nets — the third-most in 20 video games or fewer with a brand new group. He can transfer previous Kevin Porter (221 with the New Jersey Nets in 1977) on Thursday in opposition to the Magic.
• In 19 video games as a Internet, Harden is averaging 25.2 factors, 11.6 assists and eight.5 rebounds. He leads the NBA in assists and leads the Nets in rebounds.
• The Nets have three All-Stars in a season for the primary time. Between them, the Nets trio have been named to 27 All-Star video games: 11 for Durant; 9 for Harden, 7 for Irving.

“For the All-Star Recreation, that’s all the time a blessing,” Harden stated. “Which means you’re doing one thing proper, which means you’re enjoying extraordinarily effectively as much as that time. You by no means need to take alternatives like that with no consideration. So I’m blessed. I’m lucky to be part of my ninth All-Star Recreation.”

On March 4, LeBron James and Durant, the captains for the All-Star Game, will select their squads stay on TNT, with James getting the primary alternative among the many starters and Durant the primary choice among the many reserves. It will be becoming if Durant selected Harden with the primary decide among the many reserves.

Meantime, Durant, who has solely performed three video games this month as a result of a hamstring pressure and Covid-19 contact tracing protocols, is anticipated again earlier than the All-Star break, Nash said. The Nets have 4 sport earlier than the break begins March 5.

“We’re simply making an attempt to observe and be cautious,” Nash stated earlier than Tuesday’s sport. “We positively have form of slowed issues down in that respect: not placing any strain on him, not making an attempt to hurry him again in any capability and simply make it possible for we give him the correct quantity of time to be greater than healed, to be robust and conditioned to come back again to the group.”

In Harden’s phrases, it may very well be “scary hours” if Durant comes back healthy and able to play at his All-Star stage.