James Harden put up stellar offensive numbers in 2015-16, but was somehow left off all three All-NBA teams.
While on Jason Terry’s new SiriusXM NBA Radio show, The Runway, Harden said “there’s no answer” as to why he wasn’t named one of the top-15 players this season.
“It wasn’t a good year. I guess the media is looking at it like the Rockets are coming off the Western Conference finals and they’re fighting for the 8th seed. Well, we’re still in the Playoffs.”
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“Those numbers are… I don’t even know who’s doing those numbers. And that’s an issue right there. That’s extra motivation for me to come back and be a better basketball player overall.”
Indeed, the Rockets were one of the biggest disappointments in the League, starting the season 5-10 and barely squeaking into the postseason.
Despite all the negative press surrounding the team, Harden put together perhaps the best individual offensive season of any player. Playing all 82 games, The Beard averaged 29 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists—numbers which haven’t been matched since LeBron James in 2010.
Harden said he’s not sweating the slight by the media, though. He’ll be using it as motivation this summer as he prepares for next season.
