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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 26

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the second half at Toyota Center. The Warriors won 114 to 110. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the second half at Toyota Center. The Warriors won 114 to 110. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after scoring during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

3. James Harden

A year ago, James Harden placing this low on an MVP list, let alone a list simply ranking players in his age group, would have been erroneous. But with the Houston Rockets on the verge of missing the playoffs and Harden’s uninspired brand of leadership more apparent than ever, we can no longer in good conscience rank him above Klay Thompson anymore.

On the one hand, it’s not Harden’s fault that his best teammates are an injury-prone/fading Dwight Howard, a slumping Corey Brewer and a point guard who looks like the “I’m the captain now” guy from that one Tom Hanks movie. He’s also done all he can to carry this team, averaging 28.7 points, 7.5 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game on the season.

He’s only shot 43.6 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three-point range this year, but since the start of March, he stepped up his numbers to 29.2 points, 9.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. People blaming him for the Rockets falling short this season need to realize just how much he does for that offense, especially as the league leader in minutes.

But even leading the league in minutes is no excuse for some of Harden’s inexplicable lapses on the defenses end, most of which amount to laziness, ignorance or sheer forgetfulness.

Though he’s posting Kobe Byrant-in-his-prime-type numbers right now, and though fatigue should give him something of a pass, Harden’s horrendous defense and his team’s dwindling playoff hopes drag him down in these rankings.

Next: No. 2