James Harden sees his role on the floor through the lens of football’s elite quarterbacks.
Speaking Sunday, February 22, with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, the veteran guard was asked about the quarterback comparison that has followed him throughout his career.
“The greats,” Harden told ScoopB.com.
“You got Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes. Those are some of the greats with their playmaking. All those guys have decisions to make in every possession, other than a handoff, their passing. It’s a split second, so those are the guys that have to make a decision. I don’t even know how many times they pass the ball, but it’s difficult, it’s not easy. Some people that are really great decision makers, under pressure can think that fast, and some people just aren’t, so it’s a tough situation to be in. But the ones that are good at it, they excel.”
When asked which of those quarterbacks best mirrors his game, Harden did not single one out.
“All of them, all of them are special in their own way,” he said.
“It’s not an easy job to be a decision maker. Not even just in sports and life. You know how many, some people make not great decisions, and good things don’t happen. They make really good decisions and good things happen, so, yeah, just try. I gotta be better, and I will be.”
The comments come during a pivotal stretch for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired Harden on February 4 in a trade that sent Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the LA Clippers.
Since arriving in Cleveland, the 36-year-old has started six games and averaged 18.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per contest. He is shooting 50.7% from the field and 47.1% from three, posting a 62.3% effective field goal percentage.
The Cavaliers have gone 5-1 in those appearances, including road wins over Sacramento and Denver. In his debut against the Kings, Harden finished with 23 points and eight assists. He followed that with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a two-point victory over the Nuggets.
The numbers reflect the decision-making he described. Cleveland ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference at 36-21, and the offense now features multiple initiators alongside Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 28.6 points and 5.9 assists.
With Jarrett Allen thriving as a rim runner and Evan Mobley providing vertical spacing, Harden’s ability to read drop coverage or hit weak-side shooters has added structure to late-clock possessions.
