After Cleveland Cavs All-Star James Harden broke out of his scoring slump in a 115-107 win against the New York Knicks, he had a message for his doubters. Harden’s slump coincided with the Cavs’ 5-6 start before his 32 points carried Cleveland to victory on Wednesday. He went 9-for-14, including five threes, and drained 9-of-11 free-throw attempts.
After the win, Harden addressed his haters over the years, including the ones who questioned his lackluster start, per The Associated Press.
“I was averaging 36 and 35, whatever the case may be, people had something to say about that. ‘You can’t win like that.’ So then I averaged 20-something; it’s like, ‘Can’t win like that,'” Harden said.
“So I think the most important thing for me, like, people are going to talk. So I just focus on myself, things I need to do and try to get in really good shape and learn my teammates and learn how to play a different brand of basketball, because I’m not the same fast person that I was like five or six years ago.”
Cavs’ James Harden also tallied four assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block against the Knicks. All-Star Donovan Mitchell finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals, and Tyrese Proctor’s 15 points led the Cavs’ bench. Six players scored in double figures.
Harden says it was only a matter of time before he’d climb out of his slump, per Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico.
“I’ve been aggressive. I put the work in, so it’s only a matter of time before I get into a rhythm,” Harden said. “Year 18, it’s taken me a longer time than usual, but eventually, the work pays off. Eventually, it will come around.”
Harden and the Cavs will face the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup matchup on Friday.