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It wasn’t precisely the smoothest experience by means of the 2020–21 season for James Harden.
The previous MVP and present Nets famous person endured perhaps the most tumultuous season of his career final yr, with a rocky eight-game stretch in Houston previous a blockbuster trade to Brooklyn in January. Harden battled a hamstring injury for the latter a part of final season, and although he returned in Recreation 5 of the Japanese Convention semifinals, his chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy resulted in an overtime heartbreaker against Milwaukee. Coming into his age-32 season, Harden remains to be looking for an elusive first championship.
Maybe there’s mounting stress on Harden to safe his first ring, however don’t inform that to the three-time scoring champion. Harden has no bother declaring the Nets the favourite for the championship if wholesome, and, paired with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, he says he’s maybe probably the most comfy he’s been as an expert. Whereas 12 months 1 in Brooklyn didn’t ship a championship, Harden’s title window stays vast open.
Harden spoke with Sports activities Illustrated about his offseason rehab, famous person teammates and the championship expectations in Brooklyn.
Sports activities Illustrated: It was a little bit of a whirlwind yr for you in 2020–21 with a brand new group, some accidents and a traditional collection in opposition to Milwaukee. How would you assess your season?
James Harden: It was fairly good, contemplating all of the adversity we needed to cope with, whether or not it’s me getting traded midseason, [Durant] lacking rattling close to three months of the season, the COVID protocols, [Irving] lacking a piece of the season as effectively. And with all that mentioned, we have been a step away from the Japanese Convention finals. Now we’ll get a full yr to regroup and get this factor going the place we wish it to.
SI: You gained two notable costars this season. We’ll begin with Kevin Durant. What do you take pleasure in about taking part in with him?
JH: Properly, he’s actually good. However in all seriousness, he’s as humble as they arrive. He works his butt off, and he works to be the very best model of himself evening in and evening out. And one factor about him is he simply actually, actually loves the sport of basketball. Lots of guys simply play as a result of they’re tall or regardless of the case could also be, however he loves it. He performs basketball at any time when and wherever. You’ll be able to’t educate that.
SI: Along with your different costar, Kyrie Irving, what makes him an efficient backcourt complement to you?
JH: He’s simply probably the most expert gamers I’ve ever seen. The issues he can do with the basketball, the way in which he can rating from anyplace on the courtroom, taking part in with a man like him makes my job loads simpler. I can simply go on the market and be a playmaker and rating once they really want me to attain.
SI: How would you describe Steve Nash as a head coach?
JH: Final gamers’ coach. He was a terrific level guard, and you actually see that in conditions within the sport. There’s an actual distinction the place with him he really performed the sport and performed it at an elite stage, so he understands each sport state of affairs. Truly being in high-level moments so usually over time, that’s a giant profit for us.
SI: Had been there any changes you needed to make in Brooklyn after being the unquestioned high possibility in Houston for thus lengthy?
JH: There actually wasn’t any adjustment. I nonetheless play how I play, however now I don’t must shoot the ball a lot. It’s actually the very best fashion for me, to be sincere. Kevin and Kyrie can all the time go get a bucket, and, with me as a playmaker, I can take into consideration how you can get shooters concerned, how you can get bigs touches, how you can create open photographs. My principal focus is making an attempt to get everyone concerned and have every man make an affect on the sport.
Erick W. Rasco/Sports activities Illustrated
SI: You’re now in New York, one of many largest cities of the world. What are your objectives off the ground within the coming years?
JH: That was one of many causes I wished to come back to New York and Brooklyn. I wish to construct my enterprise aspect and my model aspect greater than it already is, and what different place would you try this than Brooklyn? And so long as we win, so long as we deal with our enterprise on the courtroom, our work off the courtroom will attain the identical stage.
SI: Your annual JH-City occasion in Houston is developing. How would you describe your relationship with the town in the mean time?
JH: Houston will all the time maintain a particular place in my coronary heart. I spent the final 9 years there. On the courtroom it was what it was. I used to be dissatisfied in myself that I couldn’t deliver a championship there as a result of that’s what I put the jersey on for each single sport. However the neighborhood work actually lets me see the affect I can have on the town. We’ve been by means of some robust occasions with [Hurricane Harvey] and all forms of issues. And simply with the ability to come again now and be there for folks and help them, I’m going to do this so long as I can.
SI: Is there something you’re specializing in in your offseason preparation for subsequent yr?
JH: Conditioning goes to be my principal focus. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to principally get wholesome from my hamstring harm, which I used to be coping with for a couple of months. So I wish to be certain I’m fully healed and powerful sufficient so I can go on the market and fully be myself. My rehab goes very, very effectively, and my getting my conditioning proper is a giant a part of that.
SI: You’ve been a accomplice with BODYARMOR for years now. How does the product allow you to prepare in the course of the offseason?
JH: I’ve been with BODYARMOR because the starting, and we’ve constructed one thing particular for the tradition, for everyone. It’s very revolutionary. They’re all the time altering the sport. It’s one thing that I depend on actually yearly.
SI: You enter subsequent season after falling simply wanting the convention finals. You could possibly have gained the championship final yr if issues broke proper. Is there a sure chip in your group’s shoulder getting into 2021–22?
JH: There’s no chip in any respect, no chip for us. We’re simply excited. We’re targeted. We all know what we’ve got to do. The largest factor is us being wholesome, which we can be. Actually, we’re simply excited to play an entire season collectively. That’s the thrilling half.
SI: Why do you suppose subsequent season would be the yr you seize your first NBA title?
JH: At full power, no one can beat us. I’m simply going to depart it at that.
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