2025 Hall of Fame Nominee - James Harden

[Donny - Bucks]

Likely a similar case to Kevin Durant, James Harden's career in the NBN was just six years. Those six years, however, were a special six years that brings Harden up to the forefront of the Hall of Fame debate. Will they be enough?

PLAYER PAGE - nothinbutnetleague.altervista.org/NothinButNet/Archive/2024/html/players/player548.htm



CAREER STATS
Games: 466
MPG: 38.9
PPG: 27.3
RPG: 7.2
APG: 4.7
SPG: 2.2
BPG: 0.3
TOPG: 4.1
FG%: .477
FT%: .799
3P%: .380

Best Season (2021 Heat)
Games: 76
MPG: 38.9
PPG: 30.0
RPG: 7.4
APG: 5.1
SPG: 1.9
BPG: 0.3
TOPG: 3.9
FG%: .484
FT%: .790
3P%: .393

Career Highs
Points: 59
Rebounds: 19
Assists: 12
Steals: 9
Blocks: 3

Achievements
Championships: 1
Player of the Game: 83
Player of the Week: 0
Player of the Month: 0
Double Doubles: 90
Triple Doubles: 4

(Leaderboard Rankings probably shouldn't be used considering the league is only six seasons old, unless Silver wants to go through the pile then we're talking 4,877 FGs, 943 3PT, 3,355 rebounds, 2,190 assists, 1,910 turnovers, and 12,721 points A. Silver)

Awards
2019 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2019 - All-Star Game Participant
2019 - All-League First Team
2019 - All-Defensive Second Team
2020 - All-Star Game Participant
2020 - All-League First Team
2020 - All-Defensive Team
2021 - All-Star Game Participant
2021 - All-League Second Team
2022 - All-Star Game Participant
2024 - All-Star Game Participant



Arguments For Induction
- If you can get the longevity thing out of your head, I'd say Harden is one of the most efficient offensive players we've seen in the new league. While his FT% isn't super high and 3P% isn't a wow factor, the fact that he shot 47.7% for his career including five of six seasons of 46.5% is spectacular.

- Two All-League First Team awards and one All-League Second Team award is spectacular, not to mention he was a multiple time All-Defensive Team award winner and a five-time All-Star while also winning an NBN Championship along the way.

- In terms of SG rankings, a lot like Durant with the SF's, he's at the very worst a top 3 shooting guard in the new league thus far. Harden did everything a GM would want and while his decline was apparent, it wasn't significant enough to really take him out of the "superstar status" he was a part of.

Arguments Against Induction
- Longevity's going to be the big issue. Six seasons, less than 500 games doesn't help the cause.

- Turnover issues! If Silver decides to do leaderboard rankings, I'd say Harden is a good guess to be #1 on that list.

- Finally, while he was a super efficient offensive player in terms of his FG%, his game always lacked a little something and he left a lot to be desired with mistakes like turnovers, bad shooting years, or a ridiculous amount of shots that left other players on his team a little less efficient in terms of their usage.

Vote carefully, and remember to throw out arguments regardless of which side you're on. This should be a discussion that eventually gets the league to the proper decision on him. Your vote can also be retracted after it's been cast if you feel like switching to the other side based on the arguments that have been made. To be inducted, a player needs 70% and to be considered in a later class they need 50%. Vote carefully.

***BONUS - Don't forget that everyone who votes gets $25 and the person that makes the best argument or contributes to the discussion the best will be awarded an extra $25***

8.0.5

[yourkers15]

I am going with yes because even though it was only 6 years he made the all star game 5 out of 6 years. Made an all league team 3 out of 6, also made an all defensive team and won a championship. His turnovers are an issue i feel you can look past that and see he was one of the best in his short period.

[ucfinfan86]

Yes, there’s a difference between the 4 seasons that Durant played and 6 here. He also has the championship that Durant never got. Literally the only negative against Harden is the turnovers. They were a big issue but he brought so many things to the table. To be a #1 option and also an elite stocks defender was huge. He was also the best rebounding SG in the league. Getting 7+ rebounds from your SG is such an advantage. He only made 3 all-league teams but I’d venture to say he would have won in 2022 but he only played 73 games.

[Ryan Fitzmagic]

I think the title puts his resume over the top. He was elite throughout his tenure and accomplished everything short of winning MVP.

[A. Silver]

Surprised at the love he's getting so far. He was an elite talent his first three seasons, but since then I think he's been closer to the 8th best SG than an elite player nothinbutnetleague.proboards.com/thread/19713/top-10-shooting-guards

The championship makes it closer, but I think you need more than three elite years to be a HOFer.

[vanimmer]

He dominated early years and then was more then good for his last 2
Voting him in aswell

[thefirstcedi]

No. Had only three good seasons. Heat could have won with any 20+ ppg SG.

[Antonius Block]

5x all star, multiple all league awards. It is so close. Ill give the edge to yes simply because he got the title, HoF has to start somewhere I say enshrine him

[rbx]

I voted no. Much better case for induction than kd , but I still think the length of his career holds him back here. His career highs, averages and accolades are certainly worthy, but I have to think his averages would be lower had he not already been in his prime when the league began. I don't want his stats to be a standard that we hold our future inductees to.

[pjclippers]

Went with yes even tho I am not in love with how often he turned the ball over. Was still an All-Star in all but one season and was an elite scorer.

[The Slough]

Voted no, he blew our playoffs getting worked in the first round last season.

[kennypowers]

Voted Yes. I mean yes defensively he's terrible. Won a championship. Crazy %s. 5x all star. He's in.

[lynchcats]

I voted yes for Durant based on what would have been, and I'm voting yes for Harden as well. 5-time All-Stars over a FULL career usually gets someone inducted into the HOF, so why wouldn't 5 in 6 years??

[John1974]

Voted yes he has the stats to make him get in.

[ucfinfan86]

Aug 21, 2020 20:34:48 GMT kennypowers said:

Voted Yes. I mean yes defensively he's terrible. Won a championship. Crazy %s. 5x all star. He's in.

Defensively terrible?  2.2 career steals and 2 all defensive teams