All-Star James Harden and the Cleveland Cavs have lost four of their last five games, falling below .500 at 5-6 after 11 games into the 2026-27 season. Harden earned a three-year, $97 million extension ahead of his first full season alongside All-Star Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs, but his early production, coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, raises concerns.
Harden finished with 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting in a 124-112 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. This followed seven points on 2-of-9 shooting in a 109-97 defeat to the defending champion New York Knicks on Saturday. Harden’s averaging 15.3 points, shooting has dipped to 36.4% while he averages 5.7 assists per game, his fewest in 13 years.
With two games against the Philadelphia 76ers, a pair of losses to two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, one loss against the Knicks, and a 127-125 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cavs have had a handful of challenging matchups in the first two weeks of the regular season.
However, for a team with six players averaging double digits in scoring, Harden’s points deficiency could be the difference between winning and losing, including Monday and Saturday’s respective 12-point losses to the Hornets and the Knicks (109-97).
Hoping to stay afloat in a competitive Eastern Conference, the Cavs added offensive firepower during the offseason. Cleveland drafted Meleek Thomas, a second-round pick who led the bench with 18 points in Monday’s loss. The Cavs also traded for a starting 3-and-D wing, Peyton Watson. He’s averaging 11.4 points on 40.6% shooting.
Perhaps we’re witnessing James Harden adapting to his new surroundings among his new Cavs teammates. He’s averaging 12.0 attempts per game so far, which is the lowest he’s averaged since 2011-12, his third season in the NBA. Is Harden’s abysmal start to the regular season a byproduct of aging? Maybe.
Still, James has plenty of time to adjust. The 37-year-old guard is undoubtedly entering the final chapter of his first-ballot Hall of Fame career. However, the Cavs, with Evan Mobley and Mitchell in their core, have surrounded him with enough talent to help him thrive. He has to figure out how to maximize his skill set at this stage.
Harden is still chasing his first NBA championship. The 2026-27 season could be his best opportunity to compete for one. Perhaps the high-caliber opponents early in the regular season are best for Harden and the Cavs in the long run. They’ll need Harden to get out of his funk soon. However, the schedule doesn’t get any easier.
The Cavs will face the Knicks on Wednesday before facing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup matchup on Friday.