PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 28: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Denver ... [+] Nuggets at the Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesAfter announcing starters for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game last week, the league is set to reveal the 14 reserves during Thursday's edition of Inside the NBA. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid should be a lock to be selected after his snub from the starting lineup, but he isn't the only Sixers player who deserves to make the team.
Although he missed roughly a month of action early this season with a foot injury, Sixers guard James Harden should be joining Embiid at the All-Star Game in mid-February.
In 34 games this season, Harden is averaging 21.4 points on 44.9 percent shooting, 11.0 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 three-pointers in 36.7 minutes per game. He's also shooting a career-high 39.4 percent from deep after knocking down a season-high six three-pointers in the Sixers’ 105-94 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Harden is no longer scoring like he did during his prime with the Houston Rockets, but the Sixers don't need him to. They need him to be their primary playmaker and secondary scorer behind Embiid, who is leading the league with a career-high 33.5 points per game on a career-high 53.4 percent shooting.
“This is a generational scorer that has taken [to] and decided to be a point guard,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters in December while praising Harden. “And that’s hard to do. ... Most people can’t do that—or will not do it is a better way of saying it. And the fact that he is willingly doing it, running the team, organizing us, it’s huge for us.”
Harden is one of only three players this season averaging at least 20 points and 10 assists per game, joining Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (an All-Star starter in the West) and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (another should-be All-Star). No other Sixers player is averaging even five assists per game.
Because Harden hasn't played in 70 percent of the Sixers' games—he's one game shy after Wednesday's win Magic—he isn't qualified for the NBA's statistical leaderboard yet. Once he does become eligible, though, he'll leap past Haliburton for the league lead in assists.
While Embiid is the still Sixers' primary offensive focal point, Harden is the best table-setter with whom he's played. Harden has assisted on 141 of Embiid's 426 made baskets this season, while the rest of Embiid's teammates combined have assisted on 135 of his made baskets.
With Harden and Embiid on the floor, the Sixers are averaging 122.2 points per 100 possessions and are outscoring opponents by 8.0 points per 100 possessions. When Harden plays without Embiid, the Sixers average only 115.9 points per 100 possessions and outscore opponents by 1.5 points per 100.
The Sixers are averaging 118.5 points per 100 possessions with Harden on the floor this season, which is better than the Denver Nuggets' league-leading 117.4 offensive rating. They're scoring only 110.7 points per 100 possessions with Harden off the floor, which would rank 27th leaguewide, ahead of only the bottom-feeding San Antonio Spurs (110.4), Houston Rockets (109.1) and Charlotte Hornets (109.0).
In case Harden's impact on the Sixers offense isn't enough to clinch his All-Star nod, advanced metrics help make his case, too.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell were selected as the Eastern Conference backcourt starters. That means Harden will be competing with the likes of Haliburton, Boston Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown, Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and Chicago Bulls swingman DeMar DeRozan for one of the two reserve backcourt spots or one of the two wild-card nods (which can go to either a guard or a frontcourt player).
Among that sextet, Harden ranks second in PER, box plus/minus and value over replacement player, trailing only Haliburton in each. He's third among that group in total win shares—largely because he's played fewer minutes than any of them—but he leads them all with .200 win shares per 48 minutes. He also leads all of them with a 61.9 true shooting percentage.
Harden is grading out as a relatively neutral defender this season, but he's standing out in offensive all-in-one metrics. The 33-year-old ranks 11th in Dunks and Threes' offensive estimated plus/minus, right between Mitchell and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. (Irving is 13th.) Haliburton is the only other Eastern Conference guard ahead of him.
Harden is also 16th leaguewide in offensive box plus/minus and is tied for 18th in offensive win shares. No one else in the top 20 of the latter metric has played fewer than 36 games.
"I'm not gonna sit up here and say I should be an All-Star, make a case, none of that," Harden told reporters after the win over the Magic on Wednesday. "Numbers show it, our seed shows it. It would be my 11th in a row, so obviously, it's always an honor. You never want to take that for granted. It means you're doing something right. You're making an impact on your team and on the game. If my name is called, great. If not, there are bigger and better goals for the season."
The Sixers are currently a +1200 to win this year's Finals, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, trailing only six other teams. That's presumably what Harden meant when he referred to his "bigger and better goals."
Still, he's done enough to merit a spot in the All-Star Game in the meantime.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac or RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/02/02/james-harden-deserves-to-be-selected-for-the-2023-nba-all-star-game/
By: Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
Title: James Harden Deserves To Be Selected For The 2023 NBA All-Star Game
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/02/02/james-harden-deserves-to-be-selected-for-the-2023-nba-all-star-game/
Published Date: 02-02-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bird Rights in NBA
"Bird rights", in the NBA, refers to a system that allows certain players to be resigned by their current teams for more money than any other. This rule is named after former Boston Celtics player Larry Bird, who was the first to benefit from it. If a player has been on the team's roster for more than three years, the salary cap limit can be exceeded to allow a team to sign another player. Bird rights allow players to remain with the same team while receiving a higher salary than they would receive from another team.
What is the salary of a NBA ref?
Referees of the National Basketball Association receive competitive salaries for their officiating tasks. The average NBA referee earns $150,000 to $550,000 each year. This pay scale can depend on experience, with more experienced referees earning higher salaries. Refs who are involved in the playoffs or finals earn higher salaries than those who assume additional roles like training new refs, or working in the video reviewing center. Some NBA referees receive royalties or endorsements from media outlets and television broadcasts. If you are willing to work hard and dedicate yourself, becoming a NBA referee can be a very lucrative job.
Apart from a salary, NBA referees receive retirement plans and health insurance. Referees are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make critical calls that can affect a game's outcome. Refs also often receive subsidized accommodations, meals, and travel to away games. This can be a comforting factor for referees who strive to achieve perfection on the courts.
NBA referees are paid a fair salary for their hard work. The job can be demanding, but it is a rewarding experience that provides referees with an opportunity to make a difference in basketball.
What is a buyout?
In the NBA, a buyout is a contract between a team or player. In this agreement, both the player and the team agree to pay a percentage or all of their remaining contract amount. Players can become free agents and sign for any team within the league once their buyout has been completed. It also allows teams to shed salaries or change their roster composition during the season if they need to adjust.
Which team is the most successful in NBA basketball?
This question will be debated for many years by fans. Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics hold the most NBA championships with 17 titles. Chicago Bulls enjoyed their peak in the 1990s when six titles were won under Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson. Five championships have been won by the San Antonio Spurs since 1999. The Golden State Warriors have won four of the last ten. The Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980s, Kobe-Shaq Lakers in the 2000s and LeBron James's Miami Heat team, which won back-to-back NBA championships 2012 and 2013, are just a few other notable NBA teams.
Which NBA star has the highest score?
The answer to this question is subjective, as different players have different styles of play that make them unique and successful. Kevin Durant is a popular choice for the NBA's best scorer. Stephen Curry and LeBron James are also good choices.
Kevin Durant is more than a shooting star. He's also an offensive powerhouse! He has two NBA Championships and two Finals MVPs under his belt, as well as a regular season MVP title. This player is serious.
Which NBA Player is considered the NBA's all-time scoring leader?
Kareem Abou-Jabbar holds the NBA's record for scoring most points. His career totals 38,387 point. LeBron Jacob is in second place, with 37.062 points. Karl Malone is in the third spot with 36.928. Kobe Bryant is fourth with 33,643 point. Michael Jordan is fifth with 32,292 point.
Who is the greatest free throw shooter of all?
The answer to that question is widely debated among basketball fans, but most agree that the best free-throw shooter of all time is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. This incredible player holds the record for most 3-point conversions per season, with an astounding 402.
Karl Malone holds the record with 9,787 free throws. With 13,188 attempts, Malone has attempted 74.20% more free throws than any other player.
Statistics
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
nba.com
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams Will Join the Victor Wembanyama Tankathon?
- Latest NBA Intel - Sources Expect Zach LaVine Re-Sign with Chicago Bulls
sbnation.com
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
How To
How are the NBA All-Star Game players chosen?
The 24 NBA All-Star Game players are selected by a combination of media, fan and player voting. The vote comes from fans at 50 percent, and the media and current athletes each at 25 percent. Each group has one vote, so all votes are counted. Each conference's players are chosen by their position (two forwards, two guards and one center). The NBA Commissioner can select a replacement player if a player is hurt or unable. The All-Star Game sees the participants compete against each in a predetermined format. The team with the highest points total at the end after four quarters wins is declared the winner. Each year, the winner team receives an extra donation for their charity foundation.
An award is given to the best player of the game. The All-Star Game, which brings together the best talents of both conferences each year is one of the most anticipated events in NBA basketball. It's a great way for fans to cheer on their favorite players and see who ends up winning. The All-Star Game serves as a showcase of some of the most talented players in the NBA. It's something fans look forward each year to. With its unique selection process, the NBA All-Star Game is sure to provide an incredible show of talent and entertainment.
