NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2019-20

James Harden attracts many detractors, because of his demeanor or his rule-stressing manner of play. They point to his defensive lapses, his ball-dominance or his poor playoff performances. Many of these criticisms are valid and that drop-off in the postseason is why Harden ranks just fifth on this list despite three consecutive top-two MVP finishes.

What cannot be lost in the midst of critique is how gifted of an offensive player Harden truly is. He has led the league in scoring three of the past five seasons, always on good offensive teams that made the playoffs. In fact, Harden has never missed the postseason in his 10-season career.

His ability to manipulate defenses generates open shots for himself and his teammates, and few players in the league can pass at such sharp angles to open shooters on the perimeter. When the center steps up he tosses the lob; when he hangs back he drops in a floater. If the defender crowds him he draws the foul, generating the highest-percentage shots for himself at the line.

If a team doubles he whips it back out to a teammate who is in position and capable of hitting from outside because of the roster construction of the Houston Rockets around him.  Harden is in a perfect place to thrive.

Looking ahead: Russell Westbrook is a recent MVP himself and filled with such talent, athleticism and aggression that he should be mentioned here despite his own foibles. Even so Harden is this team’s focal point and one of the best offensive players in the league, and this team will revolve around him for years to come.

Years of trading draft picks mean there is no young star-in-waiting on the roster.