How did so many people not realize that Harden would be this good?

[Lensanity]

I have never understood this. While Harden was in OKC everybody just thought he was a good bench scorer and nothing else. I first saw star potential in him in the 2010-2011 season, and in the 2011-2012 season I became absolutely convinced that he would be a flat out superstar. I just couldn't understand why very few people seemed to feel the same way.

How in the hell could anybody not see star potential in a 22 year old averaging 17 PPG on 49% shooting on a team with Westbrook and Durant!? As early as 2011 I was saying that he was the best player in the league not named LeBron at getting to the rim. I remember a good friend of mine literally laughing at my face when I told him that. He had handles, a bunch of moves, sick stepback, ability to get to the FT line, and a deadly jumper. What the hell else do you need to be a superstar? Am I just an amazing scout of talent or is there some kind of reason why nobody saw what I saw?

If you average 17 on 49% playing alongside 2 players that take a shit load of shots then how in the hell could he possibly average less than 25 with his own team? I remember i wanted the Suns to sell the farm for Harden saying I'd be willing to trade Dragic, Gortat, Dudley, and 2 1st round picks if necessary to get Harden. Suns fans online bashed me for this (:facepalm) and the Suns GM had a chance to trade for Harden but refused to give up pre-MIP season Dragic (:facepalm)

So school me ISH. I don't understand.

[Fallen Angel]

Game 1 of 82 in the 2012-2013 Regular Season

Rockets @ Pistons

[dubeta]

We all knew, everyone except Presti.

[navy]

We knew he was good, why do you think the Harden trade was so lambasted. As for MVP level? Well, that is hard to predict.

[Lensanity]

We all knew, everyone except Presti.

The Suns GM refused to give up Dragic before he was good for Harden

OKC couldn't get more than Lamb, Martin and a pick

People all over Internet message boards we're saying Harden wasn't worth the max and wasn't a 1st option.

I constantly see people say that "nobody knew Harden would end up being this good." This actually makes me mad because these people are fvcking retarded.

[Lensanity]

We knew he was good, why do you think the Harden trade was so lambasted. As for MVP level? Well, that is hard to predict.


It wasn't really criticized at the time. Some people even thought OKC won :lol

[Hit_Em]

I had no idea he was better than westbrook and durant.If he was this good wtf was he taking the backseat in OKC for?

[Optimus Prime]

Everybody who knows basketball knew that Harden would be good and that OKC made one of the worst trades of all time just to save a few bucks. The trade was widely panned even back when it was first completed. However, anybody who said they knew all along that Harden was MVP-caliber good is lying.

:kobe:

[Spurs m8]

op...Why don't you have a pull mate

[Foster5k]

Harden's stock fell sharply in the 2012 NBA playoffs. He did not perform at a high level. Obviously, in hindsight, OKC should have still paid him his money and kept him. The Harden trade will forever be talked about, because it caused so many ripple effects throughout the league. Now, Scott Brooks is gone. No one knows if KD or Westbrook will stay. The Rockets look like title contenders. The list goes on and on.

[Fudge]

It was a great trade for both teams.

[J Shuttlesworth]

I think it was NBA 2K12 when I would destroy my buddy by playing as the Thunder and using Harden in the starting line up.

He was a beast in that game. That's when I knew.

[guy]

For as much shit OKC deservingly gets for trading Harden, let's not forget that Memphis picked Hasheem Thabeet over him (and Steph Curry). Just imagine how good they would be.

[Lensanity]

Everybody who knows basketball knew that Harden would be good and that OKC made one of the worst trades of all time just to save a few bucks. The trade was widely panned even back when it was first completed. However, anybody who said they knew all along that Harden was MVP-caliber good is lying.

:kobe:

I remember 1 or 2 well known analysts/writers said OKC won the trade, can't remember who though. I didn't read ISH at the time but I specifically remember the majority of RealGM saying that he wasn't worth the max. I was baffled to read that garbage.

I never predicted that Harden would win MVP but I sure as hell wouldn't have bet against it. I thought he would be at least a top 5 player until he got past his prime. I just don't understand how that was hard to see. He averaged 17 on fantastic efficiency despite having 2 teammates that took a shit load of shots.....AS A 22 YEAR OLD!

[SugarHill]

I think it was NBA 2K12 when I would destroy my buddy by playing as the Thunder and using Harden in the starting line up.

He was a beast in that game. That's when I knew.
damn Austin Rivers is going to be great. A beast in 2k :rockon:

[Beastmode88]

We all knew, everyone except Presti.

:biggums: :biggums: :biggums: :biggums:

[Eric Cartman]

I always thought he was gonna be a sub 40% fg in the postseason type of player.

[dreamwarrior]

Honestly, everyone knew he was going to be a star. He asked for a max contract and the Thunder thought for sure that he'd settle for less to stay with them and win a championship. They offered him $5m less than what they could have afforded, which was pretty much an insult to Harden so he declined and took $25m more to play for the Rockets. I don't think the Rockets would have offered $80 million to a 17ppg player if he wasn't aleady a sure thing.

[Pointguard]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7186061&postcount=23

[theaussieguy]

the reality is he is just not a good player, he is completely ref manufactured, lives at the free throw line which automatically makes him useless as a playoff performer. Wouldnt offer him vet min srs.

[Prime_Shaq]

I think it was NBA 2K12 when I would destroy my buddy by playing as the Thunder and using Harden in the starting line up.

He was a beast in that game. That's when I knew.
This.