Nets' Harden out indefinitely after latest hamstring setback

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Nets' James Harden out indefinitely after latest hamstring setback

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Apr 20, 2021 7:21 PM ET

Brooklyn Nets star guard James Harden was a Most Valuable Player candidate before he reaggravated a previous hamstring injury playing against the New York Knicks on April 5.

Harden has been sidelined since, and the club confirmed on Tuesday that he suffered a setback on Monday and is now out indefinitely:

James Harden Medical Update: pic.twitter.com/bQqj1BZ0ch
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 20, 2021

"We're back to square one," Nets head coach Steve Nash told reporters ahead of Tuesday's game at the New Orleans Pelicans, per an ESPN story.

"He will be back when he's back. It might be the playoffs. It might be sooner."

The NBA Playoffs are currently scheduled to begin May 22, and the Nets won't need Harden to qualify for the tournament. Brooklyn began Tuesday evening second in the Eastern Conference standings at 38-19, one game behind the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden was averaging 25.2 points, 10.9 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game before he logged just four minutes against the Knicks. According to Matt Eppers of USA Today, the trio of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving has played only seven games together since Harden joined Brooklyn in January.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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