James Harden finally got to bring home an MVP trophy this season after narrowly missing out on the award twice before. It’s clear to anyone watching the Rockets for the last few years that Harden has found a home in Houston.
But, according to Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated, Harden has really gotten comfortable in Houston during the last two seasons.
Harden told Golliver:
“From being traded to having my own franchise, you have to figure out how to be a leader as a whole,” Harden said. “It took time, year by year by year. Just these last two years it’s probably the most comfortable that I’ve been playing the game of basketball, and I’m sure you can tell that on the court.”
Going from a sixth man on the Thunder to the main option on the Rockets had to be a difficult transition, but Harden made it in stride. He’s been named a Western Conference All-Star in all six of his seasons in Houston, but the last two seasons have really seen Harden transform from an All-Star to an MVP.
One big factor in Harden’s increased comfortability on the court could be due to Mike D’Antoni. The offensive innovator has been manning the bench for Houston the last two seasons and he’s given Harden the freedom to become an offensive dynamo. There were questions surrounding how Harden’s ball-dominant style of play would mesh with D’Antoni’s fast-paced system, but the two have put those questions to rest.
Harden has matured into a true superstar in Houston and he’s become one of the most dominant players of his generation.
The post James Harden says he’s been most comfortable last 2 seasons appeared first on ClutchPoints.
