Houston Rockets: James Harden credits left hand for success

Despite bolstering a plethora of moves in which many seek to duplicate, Houston Rockets guard James Harden recently sought to give credit to a surprising source for his success in a recent interview.

For over the last several years, Houston Rockets guard James Harden has shown many why most of his peers consider him to be in a league of his own.

The six-time All-Star — who led the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game a season ago — possesses the strength to keep defenders off balance with his knack for drawing fouls on the way towards the basket, while also displaying the dexterity to knock down tough step-back jumpers, as the 6’5″, 220-pound product is arguably one of the most unguardable players in basketball.

Yet despite all of the various moves and skills that he has added to his repertoire, the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player recently expressed that his greatest advantage comes from being a left-handed marksman.

An attribute that only 45 out of 450 players across the league were officially identified as having this past season according to Basketball-Reference.

"“We’re weird,” Harden said about lefties earlier this month at the recent Team USA basketball minicamp in Las Vegas per Marc Stein of the New York Times. “I embrace it — we’re different., and it’s hard to guard us.”“If I was right-handed, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”"

Although one could argue that being a dominant southpaw holds more of an advantage in sports such as cricket and baseball, The Beard’s left-handedness could actually help him in ways than others might actually think on the hardwood.

Despite it being considered as easy for most right-handed players to close out onto a left-handed shooter, Harden’s ability to utilize it provides opponents with an added level of perplexity, as most defenders are not used to forcing their respective assignments to go left opposed to right more often than not.

In addition to making it tougher to strip the ball away from him, The Beard’s ability to handle the basketball — combined with his sheer force and strength — had made the former Arizona State standout a nightmare to guard.

Coaches seek to install multiple game plans to slow him down, drawn to the riddle of staying as close to Harden as possible to deny the soon-to-be 29-year-old the space to shoot or drive to the rim, while trying to also account for Harden’s extraordinary ability to get to the free throw line.

And while one could easily seek to argue against Harden by saying that he is talented no matter where his strong hand lies, no one can deny that the former Sixth Man of the Year recipient has shown that being a lefty does have its perks.

No. 13 could prove that it provides players in the game of basketball with the upper hand too.

Forcing the majority of young hoopers across the globe, to do whatever it takes to master their non-dominant hand someday.