James Harden’s Former Teammate Explains Why Star Guard Was Misunderstood During His Rockets Stint
Despite the criticism that often surrounds James Harden, especially after a disappointing last season, those who watched his time with the Houston Rockets know how great a scorer he was. Even fellow NBA star DeMar DeRozan couldn’t help but express his admiration for Harden’s prime years with the Rockets.
During his appearance on the ‘Ur.Perspectives’ podcast, former Rockets player Danuel House Jr. also looked back fondly on Harden’s Rockets stint. House recently praised Harden’s ability to shine despite the challenges.
“People talk about the Rockets and James Harden, and they criticize us for not getting it done in the playoffs. But they don’t realize how hard it was. Harden had three defenders on him every night,” House said.
Harden won his lone MVP with the Rockets in 2018. In that season, he averaged 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. Despite facing relentless defensive pressure, Harden consistently put up remarkable numbers.
“Teams would throw everything at him—double teams, triple teams, even weird defenses like having a guy stand behind him to stop the step-back. It was crazy. But despite all that, he still got his numbers. People want to blame him for not winning, but it wasn’t just on him,” he added.
Danuel House Jr. Defends James Harden’s Place in the All-Time Top Five
James Harden’s name doesn’t come up as often in discussions about the top five NBA players of all time. But Danuel House strongly believes he deserves a spot. On the recent podcast, he explained why he still believes Harden deserves to be in that elite group.
“Why James gotta be in the top-five. Name another NBA player that had three players guarding him night in and night out. I’ll wait. Alright. Don’t get underneath these comments and get to talking, because I will @ you and we’re gonna talk basketball… Name another player that had three players come after him, bro,” House said.
Harden is coming off a season where he averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game with the Los Angeles Clippers. Though his recent stats may not reflect his peak years, House’s respect for Harden’s legacy remains strong.
