~ From the Braintrust ~
An open letter to the NBA’s James Harden:
Dear Mr. Harden,
Not that you would ever take the time to read a column from a lifelong sports fan and an NBA follower since the late 1960’s, but it’s worth a shot, anyway.
For someone who is a former Most Valuable Player, you sure act like you are far and above anyone else who has played the game. You won the MVP Award in 2018, deservedly so. The numbers you have put up are impressive.
All that is, except for your lack of championships and playoff disappointments. Hey, it happens to many great players, not leading their team to championships, no big deal.
I have a problem, though, with your arrogance and disrespect towards the game itself.
You were fortunate to be traded to the Houston Rockets, and blossomed into an incredible scorer. Congrats on the hard work you put into your game. After failing to advance Houston to the NBA Finals despite incredible regular season stats, you then demanded Houston trade for Chris Paul. When that didn’t work, you demanded Paul be shipped out for Russell Westbrook. That fizzled out, too. In your mind, of course, it was all Paul’s fault, all Westbrook’s fault.
After failing in last year’s NBA Playoffs, you went into a funk and made it known you wanted to be traded. Instead of just working on your game and becoming a better team player this offseason, you pranced around the country, visiting Atlanta and Las Vegas because that’s where your ‘personal trainers were.’ Right.
Maybe Atlanta and Vegas happen to be hot spots for physical therapy, but they also are known for clubs. Adult dancing. Not sure if that is what you meant by your physical therapists?
Now that the NBA season has begun, you are just kind of hanging out, hoping you get your wish to be traded.
Some unlucky team may decide to trade for you, and they better hope you mature before getting to your new destination.
Mr. Harden, you have produced some great regular season numbers, and maybe you will be fortunate to be traded to a rumored top choice of yours, Brooklyn. If so, you’d be paired with two guys who already have NBA Championships in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Hope Durant and Irving have a healthy supply of teething rings around, in case they see a certain regular season star come aboard and pout because he isn’t getting enough shots.
Mr. Harden, you think of yourself as an NBA Great, but your lack of class and character doesn’t qualify you to even be thought of in the same breath as Michael, LeBron, Larry, Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Tim, Julius, Wilt, … and another couple dozen who are way ahead of you.
Buyer beware, NBA Teams. Producing great regular season numbers is what Harden is good for. NBA Championships? Not so much.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
