10 biggest player option decisions of the 2023 NBA offseason

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

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Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 1. James Harden

Any time a two-time NBA MVP Award winner tests free agency, it is going to be a big deal. Even if James Harden is not the same player he once was, he is still one of the best players in the world. He transformed his game since coming to the 76ers, something that doesn’t get mentioned enough. Harden sacrificed his status of being the alpha of a team with the hopes of winning his first championship. However, things have not gone as planned in Philadelphia.

As a member of the Rockets, James Harden was widely regarded as one of the best scorers of all time. He was a three-time scoring champion and averaged 30+ points per game in three consecutive seasons before evolving into a true point guard for the Nets and 76ers. Now, Harden went on to lead the NBA in assists per game this past season. How many players can be at the top of the league in both scoring and assists? What James Harden is doing has been nothing short of remarkable.

This season, James Harden averaged 21.0 points to go along with 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. Turning 34 years old in August, Harden showed he still has plenty left in the tank to help a team compete for a title. He single-handedly won the 76ers two playoff games against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals this postseason. In Game 1, without Joel Embiid, James Harden went for 45 points and hit the game-winning shot to lead the 76ers to a road playoff win in Boston when they were nearly 10-point underdogs. In Game 4, he recorded 42 points and sealed the game with a three-pointer to tie up the series.

Similar to Khris Middleton’s pending free agency potentially impacting the direction Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks go in the near future, James Harden’s free agency decision could have a colossal impact on what it means for Joel Embiid’s prospects with the 76ers. Rumors surrounding Harden returning to the Rockets or going to the Suns to reunite with his old teammate, Kevin Durant, continue to circulate.

Next. This Week in Playoff Mode: Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world. dark

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