James Harden Faces Brutal Criticism as 6x All-Defensive Star Calls Out His Ball-Dominant Style
· Yahoo Sports
NBA star guard James Harden is one of the best offensive players. However, not everyone is a fan of his ball-dominant style of basketball. One of the people who isn’t fond of how Harden plays is former player Tony Allen.
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Allen and Harden faced each other countless times. A former six-time All-Defensive selection was renowned for his elite perimeter defense during his career, while the Cleveland Cavaliers led the league with an offense-driven style of play.
On Friday’s episode of “Out the Mud Podcast,” Allen addressed the flaws of Harden’s playstyle. He criticized the Cavaliers star for having the ball too much, which often rendered his teammates as bystanders.
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) looks on in the third quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images“He dribbled the ball 900 times. He did. It’s a stat on that man dribbling that ball so much that he got no choice but to make the shot,” Allen said.
“But it also takes another type of discipline, and it takes another type of inner superstar to be able to do multiple things, sacrifice, and be able to play together and still star in my role.”
Comparing two elite guards, Allen likened James Harden’s approach on the court to Dwyane Wade’s during his time with the Miami Heat. When he was still playing, Wade sacrificed his role to coexist with other stars and even role players on his team. The two guards are often compared to each other, and the former Memphis Grizzlies star said that Harden does not know how to sacrifice, which is why he hasn’t won a title.
“And I think that’s the biggest part of what James Harden ain’t done, bro,” he added. “I honestly think that D-Wade gets that nod because he took that sacrifice and said, ‘Bron, you know what? I’ma go on. I’ma go on, pass it to bro. You look good in this little spot right here. I’ma scoot over. I’m with you.'”
James Harden’s Former Teammate Explains Why He Underperforms in the Playoffs
James Harden has had several playoff games where he underperformed. His former Houston Rockets teammate Patrick Beverley explained the reason behind it.
According to Beverley, Harden is being utilized for everything, not only on offense. Because teams count on him to handle both scoring and playmaking duties, he frequently wears down during crucial late-game moments.
However, that’s the demand that every star player faces. Longevity and endurance play a significant role in leading teams to success, especially in the postseason.
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