Harden turns corner in third year as pro

Thunder player James Harden holds up three fingers after hitting a three-point shot against the New York Knicks Saturday night. (Photo by Hugh Scott, Jr.)

By Tim Farley

When the Oklahoma City Thunder selected James Harden as the No. 3 pick in the 2009 NBA draft, there were high hopes.

Yet, for the first two years, Harden had his peaks and valleys. He had great games and not-so-great games. Despite the ups and downs, the Thunder coaching staff continued to give the sharp-shooting 6-5 guard plenty of time on the court.

Finally, during last year’s NBA Western Conference Finals, Harden came alive. It was like he discovered what head coach Scott Brooks and the rest of the staff had known since they signed the young man two years earlier.

This year, Harden has received an extraordinary amount of press for being one of the best, if not the best, sixth man in the league. After Monday’s win in Boston, Harden was averaging 16.5 points per game, four rebounds and 3.4 assists per outing. Bear in mind, those stats are as a reserve, not a starter.

His shooting stats are just as impressive. He’s shooting 45 percent from the field, including 36 percent from behind the three-point line, and 90 percent from the free throw line.

In fact, Harden is the Thunder’s second-best threepoint shooter behind superstar Kevin Durant, who is connecting on 39 percent of his attempts.

In each post-game press conference, Brooks praises Harden’s play. After the Thunder swept past the New York Knicks last Saturday, Brooks talked about the point guard’s maturity as a player.

“He keeps improving with every game, every month, every season,” the third-year head coach said. “His consistency is something we strive for as a team. He’s a good playmaker, he makes plays for others and he has good chemistry with Nick (Collison). They help each other look good.”

The on-court bond between Harden and Collison is noticeable. When the two are on the court together, its obvious Collison is looking to share the ball with Harden, who usually is aiming to drive the lane or shoot the threepointer. The teamwork between the two bench players has paid off for them individually and as a team.

Greatest sixth man?

In some circles, Harden is being lauded as one of the greatest sixth men since the term was invented in Boston many years ago for some of its legendary bench players.

Even with those accolades, Harden remains humble. He knows the coaching staff and his teammates will bring him back to Earth and the reality of a grueling NBA season should all the high-profile publicity begin to affect his oncourt performance.

“I have a feel for it (NBA game) now that I’m in my third season. I know what to expect. I have to give a big effort every time I’m out there,” he said.

Yet, Harden remains confident with his performance so far this season.

“I always felt I was good enough. They wouldn’t have drafted me No. 3 if I wasn’t. It’s just been a matter of understanding what’s expected at this level,” he said.

It’s not just the media and his teammates who appreciate Harden’s play. Fans like him because of his energetic play and his infamous beard. During last year’s playoff run, signs read “Fear the Beard.” After a game, Harden is known to fluff the beard while getting dressed in his street clothes.

But on the court, there is no fluff at all. Its hard work, dedication and tremendous energy that has catapulted Harden into the limelight as the league’s best sixth man. While that angle may be the popular headline of the day, people like Brooks and Durant know the hype that surrounds Harden now can disappear as quickly as it arrived if his practice and game effort drops.

That’s why Brooks is so adamant about consistent effort.

He knows from his time in the league as a player and coach that hard work will continue to pay off – whether the player is a starter or the first guy off the bench.

tfarley@eastwordnews.com