‘Utter trash’ James Harden blunder has to be seen to be believed

Fans have expressed concern for NBA superstar James Harden after he had one of the all-time brain fades for the Brooklyn Nets.

It doesn't look like Harden could believe it either. Photo: Getty Images and Twitter

When you sign a superstar player, you get the good along with the bad.

In an NBA sharpshooter like Brooklyn Nets star James Harden, you get his offensive prowess, but have to sacrifice something at the defensive end.

However, the 32-year-old’s latest defensive blunder is one for the ages.

Watch the 21/22 NBA Season with ESPN on Kayo. Live coverage every week plus every game of the NBA Finals. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >

Harden registered a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and a block as the Nets claimed a 96-90 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Incredibly, he had just the fifth triple-double in history to have no two-point shots.

While there has been some concern about Harden’s performances in Brooklyn as he plays alongside bonafide superstar Kevin Durant, who tallied an easily game-high 29 points.

In his previous team in the Houston Rockets, Harden was the undoubted leader, scoring an average of 28.7 points per game in his nine seasons with the team, including averaging more than 30 points a game in three of the last four seasons. This year, he averages 17.7 points through nine games to start the year.

as he struggles — particularly compared to his time at Houston — alongside superstar Kevin Durant, who tallied an easily game-high 29 points.

But while a triple-double is nothing to sneeze at, Harden’s match against the Pistons will be remembered for a shocking piece of defence that handed Detroit the easiest basket you’ll see.

Late in the third quarter, Harden lost control of the ball and it went into the back-court. All he had to do was touch it and it would have been an over and back violation and a turnover but at least give his teammates the chance to reset in defence.

Harden was far from his best. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

But Harden just left it on the ground, allowing Detroit’s Saddiq Bey to pick up the ball and go up for the dunk untouched.

“What is James Harden doing?” expert commentator Greg Kelser said.

“He had a brain lapse.”

“James Harden knows it’s going to be a violation, but he had to pick it up.”

It was one of nine turnovers Harden had for the match, and he sits on top of the NBA for the unenviable stat as he moved to 44 for the year.

Fans and media were quick to slam Harden’s performance, particularly his brain fade.

Nets Daily reporter Alec Sturm wrote: “Did James Harden just literally fall asleep”.

SB Nation’s Brady Klopfer said: “This just feels painfully emblematic of the season Harden is having.

Mark My Words Sports podcast host Mark Gunnels added: “James Harden is currently not a top 10 player in the league, man. He just doesn’t look right.”

James Harden is utter trash right now man

— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) November 6, 2021

Did Harden’s NBA2k controller’s internet just drop out?? Wtf https://t.co/GPdjrbH1LK

— Brendan Casey (@BrendoCasey) November 6, 2021

Maximum effort, all the time.

You can’t coach the sort of intensity that James Harden brings to the floor.

Electric! pic.twitter.com/LMTmFxb6co

— Al Smizzle (@AlZeidenfeld) November 6, 2021

Um, I seldom say this, but I would have handled this better than Harden did. https://t.co/cr84JyRfZY

— Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) November 6, 2021

Nets head coach Steve Nash was less than thrilled by the handovers from his side.

The Pistons scored 24 points off Brooklyn's 17 turnovers for the match.

“I think I’d be lying if I didn’t say some of it was carelessness,” Nash said postgame. “But each game presents different tactical and emotional problems that you have to solve, and sometimes, I thought that, emotionally, we got a little bit off-kilter and we weren’t making simple, clear-headed decisions, trying to make home runs or just careless with it.

“It’s a good lesson for us. The positive is we found a way to win and the negative is we still realise we have a lot of work to do.”

Originally published as ‘Utter trash’ James Harden blunder has to be seen to be believed