James Harden's Bold Championship Statement After Cavaliers Home Debut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Feb 11, 2026 11:52 PM ET

James Harden played his third game as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards. What made it extra special, however, is the fact that it was Harden’s home debut at Rocket Arena.

Harden logged 28 minutes against the Wizards. The former NBA MVP registered 13 points on 1-of-4 shooting and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe. Harden also added four rebounds, 11 assists, a block and one three-pointer to help lead the Cavs to a 138-113 victory.

This latest win marked Cleveland’s fifth straight victory. They have not lost a game since Harden joined the team.

Former Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden reacts during a game.Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Harden spoke to reporters after the game. One of the questions the 11-time All-Star faced was about the Cavaliers’ championship aspirations. When asked if he thought the Cavs have enough pieces to contend for a title this season, Harden responded with utmost confidence.

“Yes,” he declared. “… Given the depth, shooting, athleticism and versatility we have, yes.”

James Harden on if Cavs have the pieces to be a championship team:

“Yes. Given the depth, shooting, athleticism, and versatility we have, yes.”
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— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) February 12, 2026

The Cavs improved to 34-21 after Wednesday’s win. They remain fourth in the Eastern Conference. However, their recent winning streak makes them one of the hottest teams in the league entering the All-Star break.

Harden also shouted out the Cleveland faithful after his successful home debut.

"The crowd is always crazy,” he said. “Every time I came here as a visitor, they crazy. They're about the Cavs and The Land and very loyal. They show up every single night. That's one of the things that I was most excited about, so tonight was no different."

Harden and the Cavs now get a week off before their next game. It’s going to be another home matchup for Cleveland at Rocket Center. On Feb. 19, Harden will face off against one of his former teams, the Brooklyn Nets.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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