Getting crossed up in the NBA is no big deal. With the league having so many deft ballhandlers and explosive scorers, defenders — especially the most tenacious ones — are going to get embarrassed and left in the dust on occasion. However, what happened on February 28th, 2018, between James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Wesley Johnson of the Los Angeles Clippers was different. It was memorable.
The Rockets already had the Clippers on the ropes as they led by 21 in the first half. However, the Beard decided to throw the knockout punch early. With Johnson trying to stick on him like white on rice, Harden executed a vicious crossover that left the former stumbling to the hardwood floor.
While most superstars would have immediately shot a long ball or driven to the rack, Harden curiously hesitated. Like a predator assessing what his next move would be against a wounded prey, he stared at Johnson on the floor before calmly sinking a three-pointer.
James reflected on that iconic play, offering insight into what was going through his mind as it unfolded.
He was figuring out what to do next
As one of the league’s most prolific scorers of all time, Harden has placed many defenders in the blender with his unique ability to shake defenders off the dribble. However, this particular move against Johnson was different; different because of all the time he had to decide what to do next.
“It was probably my best move, just because of how much time I had,” he explained. “There’s other moves where you make a great move, and then you’ve got to either make a shot or do another move right after. But I had so much time in between.”
Harden, a former league MVP, said that like any good offensive player, he was trying to see if Johnson would get back up on his feet to contest. However, the wiry defender struggled to find his bearings, and the two ended up just staring at one another for a few seconds.
“I was just trying to figure out what he was doing. I didn’t know. I was looking at him, and he was looking at me,” Harden continued. “I was thinking, ‘What are you doing?’ I was going to shoot it, but I was waiting to figure out what was going on. I was confused. And then, obviously, I shot it.”
Made Wes touch earth
Crossover moves are a dime a dozen in the NBA. However, defenders know a player has a lethal one when he’s able to put someone on his rear end with the simple act of dribbling the ball from one hand to the other.
“The fact that Johnson was on the ground, that was the part that got me out of my seat,” then-Rockets wingman Trevor Ariza said. “We see James do that all the time, get separation and space, but not often do guys, like, touch the ground.”
Another Rockets player, P.J. Tucker, surmised the play wouldn’t have gone viral had Wes immediately gotten back on his feet. However, the fact that he stayed on the floor for a few seconds was the coup de grâce.
“I don’t think it would have been as bad if Wes would have just got up real fast,” the veteran forward shared. “But Wes just sat there, and he smiled and kind of laughed.”
To his credit, Johnson knew he had just gotten a significant role in Harden’s highlight reel. Instead of feeling bitter about it, he reckoned it was part and parcel of trying to be a “3-and-D” player in the NBA; there’s only so much that can be done when one of the league’s best players is intent on driving to the basket.
“I was just thinking, ‘Next play,'” Wes noted. “People oohed and aahed, but it’s just on to the next play.”
With a shifty handle and an accurate jumper, the Beard possesses the ability to embarrass any defender on any given night. But on that February evening, that defender happened to be Johnson, who will forever be remembered as the guy Harden sent to the floor with one of his patented step-back moves.