The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets — James Harden

Speaking of engines powering elite NBA teams, James Harden is absolutely essential to the Houston Rockets. Rockets GM Daryl Morey consistently adds talented players to the Rockets roster, but none of it matters all that much without Harden.

Historic moments happen often when James Harden has the ball in his hands. Thousands of words could be spent just going over some of the insane stats Harden has posted, but his 60-10-11 game will always resonate as one of the most dominant single games the Association has ever seen.

The Rockets came closer to toppling the KD-era Warriors than any other team has during the 2018 NBA Playoffs, and are the only team to ever hold a series lead against Golden State since Durant arrived following the 2016 NBA Finals. Morey built an ideal team to match up with the Warriors, all centered around the offensive output of Harden.

Harden has been regarded as a star essentially from the beginning of his Houston tenure, and still somehow he’s increased his per game scoring in each of the last five seasons. His assist numbers fell off last season, because he adapted to sharing the backcourt with Chris Paul. Anything there is to do on offense, Harden can do.

This was one of the easier picks to make on this list. CP3 is great, and Clint Capela is very important to the Rockets, but they’re not contenders without James Harden. It’s just that simple.

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