Jan 29, 2021; Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) reacts during a time out in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

James Harden: Carrying Rockets' scoring load was 'draining'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 2/12/21

James Harden's scoring responsibilities have decreased since joining Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets. It's a change he's happy about after carrying the Houston Rockets' scoring load for over eight seasons in Houston.

"There's always going to be some kind of negative perception on James. That's when you go out there and continue to prove people wrong. The situation that I was in with Houston - consistently, every single night having to get 40 points to give ourselves a chance to win for a long extent of years - was draining," he told ESPN's Rachel Nichols.

James Harden sits down & opens up about his new role in Brooklyn, what he didn't like about his departure from Houston, and the Nets' championship chances: "We're more than confident that it's going to be difficult for a team to beat us four times in a best-of-seven series." pic.twitter.com/rZKkwFs1jg
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 12, 2021

Harden led the league in scoring in each of his last three seasons, averaging 30.4, 36.1, and 34.3 points. In 13 games with the Nets, he's averaging 23.3 points per game, which is his lowest output since the 2011-12 campaign.

The 31-year-old also admitted that he wasn't trying to be disrespectful when he requested a trade from Houston and regrets how his time in the city ended.

Now that he's in Brooklyn, Harden fully expects to compete for his first NBA title. It might be a little easier for him now alongside Irving and Durant.

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