Updated Jan. 10, 2026, 8:08 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets once had a time in their franchise when they were considered championship contenders due to the presence of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. Brooklyn was unable to win much with that superstar trio on the team and while many around the league consider one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NBA history, Harden spoke about the matter fairly-openly.
“Some great memories. Me, personally, I was injured, and that was like the first time in my entire career that I wasn’t able to stay on the court and be effective like I can be, like I am,” Harden said, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto after balling out for his Los Angeles Clippers in Friday’s 121-105 win over the Nets. Harden dropped 31 points, four rebounds, and six assists against Brooklyn on Friday, but he was asked about what could have been during his time with the Nets.
“That part was a little frustrating, but some great experiences, two years or not,” Harden continued. “You’ve got that. My whole career, you’ve got two what if situations. OKC (Oklahoma City Thunder), Chris Paul and his hamstring. I don’t even think about that. I’m living in the moment.”
On Jan. 14, 2021, the Nets acquired Harden in a three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers in which Brooklyn three first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps to the Rockets. In turn, the Nets were able to add Harden to a team with Durant and Irving at the helm, putting them among the contenders in the league at the time.
After less than two years, the Nets traded Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for guard Ben Simmons after Brooklyn lost in the first round of the playoffs for the one-and-a-half seasons that he was with the team. While plenty led up to Harden being traded away, he at least looked back on his time with the team understanding that something great could have happened, but other matters got in the way.
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