Entertainment

Superstar James Harden Enters Milestone 15th NBA Season: ‘More To  Accomplish’

By Jake Beardslee · July 30, 2023

As he enters his 15th NBA season, James Harden, considered one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history, took time to reflect on his long and storied caree,r while insisting there’s plenty more basketball left in hm.

Harden acknowledged the upcoming 2022-2023 season will be a milestone, he told USA Today Sports. “I’ve accomplished so many things individually and [with my] team. There’s, for me, so many more [things] that I feel like I need to accomplish.” Haraden added, “I’m not settling. I still want more, and I still feel like I need more to accomplish.”

Asked about the NBA’s new in-season tournament, Harden said it will increase fan engagement, saying, “I think the excitement around the fans and around the NBA and the players, you know, a lot more viewers who watch it. I think it will give us some more competitiveness.”

Comparing former NBA Commissioner David Stern to current Commissioner Adam Silver, Harden praised both, saying “David Stern, you know, he did an unbelievable job of… making sure the league is where it is now and then, you know, allowing it to grow, allowing it to open up new doors. And then Adam is… doing the same thing, carrying that wave and making this game even bigger.”

Regarding player empowerment, Harden acknowledged the needs of both players and team organizations, saying “I see both sides to where it’s because I went through it… to where the organization wants to do what’s best for them. I mean they don’t want to just give a player that basically is one of the best players they’ve ever had in their organization away for nothing.” He added, “I get the player side as far as wanting to play and wanting to be somewhere… So, if they can meet in the middle and kind of come to agreement and figure it out, then that’s like the best scenario.”

Harden also discussed his investment in soccer as part owner of the Houston Dynamo of MLS and the the Houston Dash of the NWSL. He praised the growth of Major League Soccer and predicting the continued development soccer as a major American sport. A passionate and high-profile San Francisco 49ers’ fan, Harden voiced optimism for the coming NFL season, saying, “I’m excited. I think we’re all excited for the upcoming year.”