The Philadelphia 76ers needed more of James Harden in the postseason.
He gave them a couple of elite throwback performances, but that obviously wasn’t enough to get them over the hump and to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in two decades.
And now that he’s set to turn 34, Skip Bayless finally believes he can no longer lead a team to an NBA championship.
“I don’t believe you can win with James Harden anymore.”
— @RealSkipBayless on Harden reportedly interested in “a competitive roster” and “basketball freedom to be himself” pic.twitter.com/wiFytc3uTn
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 18, 2023
Bayless raved about Harden’s scoring prowess and basketball IQ but once again questioned his work ethic, determination to stay in shape, and nutrition.
He pointed out the fact that Harden often tries to play his way into game shape instead of taking care of his body during the offseason, citing that it obviously gets harder as he gets older.
Bayless believes Harden has lost that burst and the quick first step that allowed him to just get his way to the rim when he was in his prime.
This isn’t the first time that an analyst has questioned Harden’s impact at this point in his career.
He’s by all means one of the greatest, most dominant scorers this game has ever seen, and his playmaking skills should also be considered among the all-time greats.
But his work ethic has often been rather questionable, and no 34-year-old that doesn’t take proper care of his body is going to be durable or impactful enough to be a team’s No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option come playoff time, and that’s something the Sixers also need to consider when weighing in his future with the organization.
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