There is no denying that when the greatest scorers of the 21st century are discussed, James Harden will rank near the top. From his playing style to draw foul calls at will to his trademark stepback three-pointer, “The Beard’s imprint on the game today can be seen almost every night.
More notably, he has selflessly adopted a different approach while playing alongside other superstars, bringing out the best in them by becoming a pass-first ball handler, yet his legacy continues to face scrutiny.
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According to Stephen A. Smith, the real reason Harden is criticized isn’t a lack of a championship but a lack of a strong mindset and courage, which is expected from a superstar like him in the most pressured moments.
Smith educates Harden on why he’s scrutinized
Harden’s numbers in Game 7s fuel that narrative. While he did score over 30 points in two of his first three Game 7 appearances, in his last four, he has looked like a shadow of his former self. In those contests, he averaged just 13.7 points while shooting under 30 percent from the field and below 25 percent from the three-point line. For a player whose entire identity has been built around offensive brilliance, those dips have been glaring.
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Interestingly, Smith educated James on the most recent episode of “First Take” on how his decline in production on the box score isn’t his biggest issue, but his passive approach is. Across his past four appearances in Game 7s, he shot an average of 12.7 field goals, and in SAS’s view, the same depleted demeanor from Harden is exactly what fails to motivate his teammates when the pressure lights are brightest in the playoffs.
“Everybody brings up his performance in terms of how anemic he has played in big-game situations. James Harden, I hope you’re watching, you’re one of the greatest scorers in the history of basketball. Reason why people go at you is because we know how great you are.
It’s not because you ain’t great, it’s because we’ve seen you be great,” Smith said. “You didn’t even attempt to make noise… When you don’t attempt the shots, that’s tantamount to quitting in our eyes. We know he can get a shot off anytime he wants to.”
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Harden has a chance to right his wrongs
Now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the context is different. Harden is no longer required to shoulder the entire scoring burden, especially now when he shares the floor with Donovan Mitchell, arguably the most dynamic young scorer in the current NBA landscape, who averages 30.5 points in his career Game 7 appearances, along with a formidable frontcourt duo in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Put simply, this setup allows the former MVP to lean into his strengths as a facilitator and offensive orchestrator rather than being the sole engine.
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This shift in dynamics can finally help redefine Harden’s recurrent struggles in the postseason. If Harden can use his expertise to guide the Cavs deep into the 2026 playoffs and hold his end in any potential Game 7 scenario, the conversations surrounding his individual legacy might change dramatically as well.
For the first time in his career, after leaving Houston, he might have an opportunity to silence his harshest critics, not with his numbers, but with his determination and willingness to control the entire game either with scoring or playmaking.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.