NBA Twitter really enjoyed James Harden utterly destroying Wesley Johnson
By Nick Tylwalk
The reactions to the unprecedented grade of hoops felony that James Harden committed on Wesley Johnson were almost as amazing as the act itself.
You might have heard that the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers had some beef earlier this season. Something about secret passageways between locker rooms and near-brawls. James Harden didn’t throw any punches as the two teams met in L.A. again tonight, but what he did to Wesley Johnson was arguably even worse.
Sometimes you cross people up. In rare cases, they get embarrassed and actually fall down while guarding you.
But if you’re Harden, every once in a while, you pause, stare down your man, wait for him to get back up and then drain a three-pointer.
Naturally, NBA Twitter lost its collective mind over this blatant display of gamesmanship and, yes, disrespect.
James Harden breaks Wesley Johnson's ankles, soul, spirit: https://t.co/mSg5HBDXpO pic.twitter.com/xcf03OkN0y
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) March 1, 2018
Where were you when Wesley Johnson's ankles died
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) March 1, 2018
Wesley Johnson has to go into a witness protection program. And James Harden must be brought up on charges for snatching this man’s soul. pic.twitter.com/7pM82he8kC
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/DimeUPROXX/status/969071301041311744
I wasn’t watching in the first half, so I missed this.
— Robert Flores (@RoFlo) March 1, 2018
Johnson has to retire now.
Is Harden staring at him? Or is Harden just stunned bc he fell?#Rockets https://t.co/kgNAEox2I0
Lmaooooo, Harden stood there and asked if he had any final wishes before he actually took the shot. https://t.co/G6Iw0oQMtW
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) March 1, 2018
“And now Harden will take the strenf of Wesley Johnson’s ankles eweh!” pic.twitter.com/VdXoCdC3XL
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 1, 2018
Hit him with that "left foot blue" pic.twitter.com/pkpj7vOdEC
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 1, 2018
Some people weighed in on the amazing reactions from some of Harden’s teammates, who were on their feet before he even took his shot.
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/969066965393379329
Did someone change Wesley Johnson’s Wikipedia entry as a result of being victimized like that? You bet your ass they did.
https://twitter.com/tigercranestyle/status/969069951708487686
Harden’s felonious act as called by Jim Ross? Check.
Harden assassinating Johnson’s ankles as set to the the music from Titanic? Double check.
https://twitter.com/TotalProSports/status/969068906961780737
Skip Bayless with the angry old man hot take saying Harden really isn’t all that? Come on, you know that happened too.
I didn't see James Harden pull off a single move like he did tonight on Wesley Johnson in last year's closeout Game 6 against the Spurs. His whereabouts in that game are still unknown.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 1, 2018
That’s some kind of Twitter reaction bingo or Yahtzee or something. In any case, at the time of this post, no official charges had been filed against Harden, but we have to figure they’re coming at some point.