Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in NBA history — included in anybody’s top 10 or 15. Turns out, The Dream puts current Rockets star James Harden in the same echelon of all-time greats.
Olajuwon heaped some tremendous praise on the 2018 MVP, who has taken his scoring to new heights in recent years while redefining the offensive side of the game in the process:
“It’s very difficult to carry a team from that position, and [Harden] has proven that comfortably, reaching new heights,” Olajuwon said during an appearance on SportsTalk 790’s ‘The A-Team.’ “Look at his statistics. He’s a player to the level of Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.”
To this point in Harden’s career, he is unequivocally one of the most statistically prolific hoopers in league history. No matter hat the resumption of the 2019-20 season looks like, Harden will take home his third straight scoring title (34.4 PPG), and the 36.1 points per game he averaged last season has only been bested by Chamberlain and Jordan for any single season in league history. Presumably, the Houston guard will finish his career extremely high up on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Of course, Harden is still without an NBA title 11 seasons into his career, which doesn’t help his case as an all-timer. Olajuwon, a two-time champion (1994, 1995), is optimistic that Harden will get there:
“There’s no question about James’ ability as a champion. I think it’s just a matter of time,” Olajuwon said the Hall of Fame center. “Any player you put with James Harden, it will work. Because James is such a complete player. He’s a winner and he knows how to win.”
Harden is hoping to finally reach the mountaintop when the NBA resumes play later this summer. His Rockets are currently No. 6 in the Western Conference.
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