Houston Rockets: Why James Harden Is A Better MVP Candidate than Kevin Durant
By Chris Lee
James Harden has been even better than advertised for Houston. Photo Credit: NBA.com
Heading into the 2012-13 NBA season, James Harden was given a five-year contract extension worth approximately $80 million, which seemed like a gamble by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
However, with the end of the regular season fast approaching, it is clear that Harden is not only worth his contract, but he also is in contention for MVP. Miami Heat forward LeBron James is the front-runner for the MVP trophy, while New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is playing like the MVP runner-up. Despite Harden being an unlikely candidate for the MVP trophy, he is a more deserving candidate for MVP than his former Oklahoma City teammate, Kevin Durant.
Harden spent his first three seasons in the NBA coming off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was the No. 3 scorer for the Thunder behind Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook. Harden averaged 13 points per game during his time with the Thunder.
However, the decision by the Rockets to acquire Harden would force Harden to step up from being the third option to now being the go-to scorer alongside point guard Jeremy Lin. Harden has exceeded expectations.
This season Harden has improved his game in almost every statistical category. Last season with the Thunder, Harden averaged a then-career high of 16.8 points per game. In Houston, Harden is No. 5 in the NBA in scoring with 25.9 points per game, while also developing into a better playmaker. Durant is the NBA’s leading scorer at 28.3 points per game, but Harden has more assists (5.5 to Durant’s 4.4) and steals (1.7 to Durant’s 1.3) than Durant.
Harden is the most efficient shooting guard in the NBA with an efficiency rating of 24.3. Durant has other options on the Thunder including the No. 6 scorer in the NBA in Westbrook, who averages 23.2 points per game, and the post presence of power forward Serge Ibaka. In Houston, the primary scorers other than Harden are point guard Lin and second-year small forward Chandler Parsons.
Harden’s play has the Rockets currently sitting at No. 7 in the Western Conference playoff standings with a 42-33 record. Harden has scored more than 40 points twice this season and is capable of having more of those performances as the regular season comes to its end. Seven games remain in the regular season for the Rockets, with three of those games coming against playoff teams. Houston has a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoff spot. The final game of the regular season for the Rockets is against the Lakers and would make a great opportunity for Harden to stake his claim to the MVP trophy.