One all-time legend who has been receiving increasing criticism with each passing season is James Harden. Year after year, the 11-time All-Star gets criticized for failing to meet expectations. However, Deron Williams wants fans to understand that Harden is aging and that they should stop taking the former MVP’s presence for granted.
Moreover, on the “To The Baha” podcast, Williams explained that, since fans have witnessed LeBron James‘s consistent dominance for over two decades, they have inadvertently come to expect every veteran superstar to maintain that level forever.
Advertisement
So, for D-Will, that unrealistic standard is what is hurting the Beard’s name and legacy at this point.
“He’s (Harden) 17 years in. People don’t understand, and they see guys like LeBron, that’s what makes LeBron even more incredible. I only played 12 years and s—t was already declining. Ankles f—ked up, knees f—ked up, injuries every other day, something new,” Williams said. “Guys get spoiled watching these great players, and they start to decline, and all of a sudden it does happen.”
Year 23 LeBron was exceptional
Sure, critics might laugh at the fact that the 41-year-old LeBron-led Los Angeles Lakers were clean-swept in the second round by the OKC Thunder. Still, after willingly operating as the third option for the team for most of the year, the four-time MVP reestablished his role as an “alpha” when his team was vulnerable.
Advertisement
James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game over the regular season. However, when Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic dealt with different Grade 2 injuries, LBJ seemed unstoppable. In the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, he registered a series-high 23.2 points and 8.3 assists over six games.
Then, in the second-round series against the defending champions, where Bron was constantly hounded whenever he tried to get to the ball, he still logged 23.3 points per game, the second-best scoring average, behind only the two-time reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
On the other hand, no one expects Harden to perform at his MVP level or average 30 points per game anymore. But with such a young and deep roster by his side, the Beard is expected to simply hold his own end and use his experience to help elevate the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ winning ceiling.
Advertisement
But whenever the situation has demanded him to step up, Harden has blatantly disappeared on the hardwood. For instance, after dropping over 20 points in three of the six games against the Toronto Raptors in the Cavs’ first-round series, James merely attempted nine field goals in Game 7.
A similar event occurred in Game 7 against the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons — the Beard shot just 2-of-10 from the field, including 0-of-6 from the three-point line. Then, in the Eastern Conference Finals’ series opener, Harden was embarrassed on the defensive end by a less-experienced Jalen Brunson as the NY Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in less than eight minutes. Even in OT, the 2018 MVP went scoreless. Unsurprisingly, Cleveland lost that contest.
Williams wants fans to accept an aging Harden
Keeping all that in mind, Williams made it clear that almost every legend, except perhaps King James, will eventually experience decline as their career enters its final stages. Because of that, Deron believes fans should still appreciate that James is averaging over 20.0 points per game in the 2026 playoffs, despite being 36 years old.
Advertisement
“Sometimes, it does happen like that, ‘Like damn you get late in the season just ain’t got the same lift, doesn’t have the same explosiveness, can’t get by guys,'” Williams added. “I think you’re seeing a little bit of that right now.”
Still, greatness comes with responsibility. And if Harden continues to disappear in clutch moments when his Cavs have made it this far despite his ups and downs, the criticism around the Beard will only grow louder.
Related: Patrick Beverley is baffled by continuous backlash against James Harden: “Is it the beard?”
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.