James Harden is currently the odds-on favorite to win the 2017-18 NBA MVP award, and with good reason. He’s leading the league in points (31.1 per game) and Player Efficiency Rating (30.46), and he’s third in assists (8.8 per game). Harden has been the most dynamic isolation player in the NBA for several years, but he has taken his one-on-one game to a new level this season.
After two straight years of finishing No. 2 in MVP voting, Harden is now a virtual lock to win the award. Feb. 28, he pulled off what may go down as the most memorable play of his first MVP campaign.
Harden crossed over Clippers guard Wesley Johnson in a Wednesday matchup at Staples Center. As Johnson fell to the floor, Harden stepped back behind the three-point line, stared Johnson down, and successfully launched a three-pointer. The play sent social media into an eruption.
😳 JAMES. HARDEN. 😳#Rockets pic.twitter.com/JCphxLzP18
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2018
In a new oral history published on ESPN, a number of Houston Rockets figures commented on the iconic crossover. The piece includes perspectives from Harden, Trevor Ariza, Clint Capela, P.J. Tucker, Tarik Black, and coach Mike D’Antoni. It also included Johnson and famous L.A. fan Clipper Darrell.
Capela called the play “special.”
“I don’t think it would have been as bad if Wes would have just got up real fast,” Tucker added. “But Wes just sat there and he smiled and kind of laughed.”
Johnson, to his credit, seemed to take the play in stride. He said his mind immediately turned to, “next play.”
“Stuff like that happens,” Johnson said. “Somebody gets dunked on, somebody falls down, it’s going to go viral. Social media is undefeated right now.”
Clipper Darrell said Harden pushed off with his forearm.
“James, I love you, man,” Darrell said. “But you’re not welcome at Staples anymore. Leave my Clippers alone.”
The Rockets currently lead Golden State by 1.5 games in the Western Conference. Read the whole oral history, from Jovan Buha, Tim MacMahon, and Law Murray, here.
