May 3, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) prepares to pass the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets during game seven of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

3x NBA All-Star Defends James Harden Amid Massive Criticism

Originally posted on Los Angeles Clippers on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated May 11, 2025 5:10 PM ET

The LA Clippers' 2024-25 campaign came to an end last week with a Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Things were looking great for LA when they took a 2-1 series lead, but ultimately crumbled by losing three of the next four

Much of the blame for the Clippers' loss has been put on veteran guard James Harden, especially after an underwhelming Game 7 performance. In their season-ending Game 7 loss, Harden dropped just seven points on 2-8 shooting from the field and 1-4 from deep. Of course, Harden still contributed with 13 assists, but he could not score when they were desperate.

James Harden in Game 7’s since 2020:

13.8 PPG
27.5% FG
16.7% 3PT
41.6 MPG

Shot below 30% FG in each of these games. pic.twitter.com/vePsTB8qAW
— Polymarket Hoops (@StatMamba) May 4, 2025

After his Game 7 performance, many fans started pointing out how Harden seems to always underperform when it matters most. However, not everyone feels like Harden is a playoff "choker." Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas asked if it was fair to call Harden the biggest choker in modern sports history.

"No," Arenas responded. "It's like you know what you're looking for to paint the picture you want to paint, but you don't look at it all... If you're gonna make this and compare him to LeBron James, who's been a number-one option this whole time, Steph, KD, then you can only use his Houston years to really see what it means."

Gil and Kenyon shut down the James Harden Playoff choker narrative pic.twitter.com/Zt96bFE38E
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) May 10, 2025

Arenas is referencing the statistic that Harden has 55 career playoff games with five or fewer made field goals, compared to LeBron James' nine, Steph Curry's eight, and Kevin Durant's four.

James Harden is getting COOKED in the media right now pic.twitter.com/CjHzhqDJzX
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) May 5, 2025

Arenas revealed that only 11 of those games with five or fewer made field goals came when he was with the Houston Rockets, which is still more than James, Curry, and Durant have, and Harden played just eight postseasons in Houston.

Harden is certainly getting some unfair treatment from the media after his playoff collapse, but it is hard to say it is not somewhat warranted.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Clippers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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