Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden was one of the best players in the NBA during his prime. Winning three consecutive scoring titles with the Houston Rockets, Harden also led his team to two Western Conference Finals appearances (2015, 2018).
Houston has lost to the Golden State Warriors in both of its Conference Finals appearances during the Harden era, also losing to Golden State in the first round in 2016 and the Western Conference Semifinals in 2019.
Although Harden is often criticized for not winning an NBA championship, he and the Rockets faced the Warriors at the height of their dynasty. Golden State won the Western Conference every year from 2015 to 2019, winning the NBA championship in 2015, 2017 and 2018 before winning again in 2022.
JAMES HARDEN WINNS THE VICTORY FOR THE @HOUSTONROCKETS FROM DOWNTOWN! 😱😱
Final in Oakland:#Rockets 135#DubNation 134 pic.twitter.com/SOJ374U8P0
— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2019
In a recent article on X, 12-year NBA veteran Evan Fournier claimed that Harden would be an NBA champion without Golden State.
In a post translated from French to English by X, Fournier wrote: “I understand. I think if Harden doesn’t fall into the GSW cheating team for 3 years, he ends up an NBA champion and then we talk about him differently.”
I understand. I think that if Harden doesn’t fall on the GSW cheat code team for 3 years he ends up NBA champion and then we talk about him differently🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/IXRDVVpyT0
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) August 30, 2024
That’s a fair assessment, as Harden is far from the only player to be denied a ring by the Golden State dynasty. Hoping to win one with the Clippers, Harden re-signed with LA this offseason.
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