The James Harden Era Might Need to End Immediately

For 17 seasons, James Harden has been one of the NBA‘s main faces.

Since getting drafted by a new team out in Oklahoma City called the Thunder, he’s been a mainstay in relevant storylines across the league. From making the NBA Finals with that young Thunder team alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to being the face of his own franchise with the Houston Rockets, where he won league MVP, Harden has carved out a legacy in the ever-evolving lore of pro basketball.

But at 36 with his 37th birthday coming up this summer, it might be time to say it: his time as a primary character in this story called the NBA might need to be over.

While I’m not saying he needs to retire this offseason, treating him as a significant piece to a contending team might need to end as early as this current Eastern Conference final against the New York Knicks.

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Harden was ineffective offensively in the first game of the series on the road at Madison Square Garden, but it was alright. Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers were steamrolling the Knicks with only eight or so minutes left in the game.

And then, as if he was blinking red and everyone on the Knicks could see it, New York began attacking Harden. Again and again, each possession, eating him alive on the defensive side of the court, and creating a historic comeback that saw the Cavs lose embarrassingly.

A decade ago, it could have been brushed off with Harden scoring 40. On the night, he went 5-16 from the field and scored 15 points, while also playing traffic cone defense, effectively acting as a greeter for Jalen Brunson as he made his way to the basket.

Although Harden failed, most of the criticism should go to Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson, who stood with his hands in his pockets as the Knicks exploited Harden without constructing any defensive adjustments.

Still, the result remains the same: Harden has tried endlessly to prove himself in the playoffs to no avail.

And if he wants to win a championship before he retires, then it’ll have to be as a supporting character. The days of James Harden being a leading man in the NBA are over, and at worst, he’s simply cannon fodder for any guard with an eye for the rim.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 8:14 PM.