The debate over the legality of James Harden’s patented step-back 3-pointer has pivoted from adults to children.
Making an appearance at an Adidas store, the Houston Rockets All-Star guard was called out by a young “fan” and proceeded to explain the move to the kid.
Kid to James Harden: “What made you do that traveling step back?”
Harden: “Did they call travel? How’s it a travel?”
Kid: “It’s a travel everybody sees it”
Harden’s answer is great. pic.twitter.com/R6FvPQCj5F— Lainie Fritz (@lainiefritz) July 19, 2019
The young NBA spectator asked James Harden about his step-back move, but added the rules violation “traveling” in his question, prompting the former NBA MVP to interject and respond with “how’s it a travel?”
Much of the league and officials alike have been perplexed by Harden’s vast array of dribble moves. Possibly the most pressing is the delivery of a multiple step-back gather into a 3-point attempt that could definitely be called a travel in some instances.
Harden has long been in the officiating spotlight with the way he confounds opponents, draws inexplicable fouls, and irritates coaches and players with his ability to finish through contact.
Harden averaged a career-high 11 free throw attempts per game last season. Additionally, he was first in the league in total attempts from the charity stripe — with a margin worth 172 greater than the second-placed Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Harden converted 232 more free-throw attempts than the next player, the Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.
When the whistle isn’t being blown, however, opposing players and coaches wish it was in instances where Harden shuffles his feet to get behind the 3-point arc and swish from deep. One brave soul in the young fan had the chutzpah to call the vet out, though.
The post Video: Kid questions Rockets star James Harden for his step-back, says it’s a travel appeared first on ClutchPoints.
