James Harden devours a Knicks team that can't seem to get back on their feet

James Harden reminded everyone that he still has a lot of basketball left in him. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard had a standout performance, scoring 32 points to lead his team to a 115-107 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. At 37 years old and in his eighteenth season in the NBA, the three-time league scoring champion delivered a display that serves as a response to those who began questioning his ability to still make an impact.

The doubts were backed by statistical arguments. Harden had started the season averaging just 15.3 points in his first 11 games, almost half of what he achieved during his best years in Houston. Additionally, he was shooting at a 34.6% success rate from the field, a percentage that would be the worst of his career. Cleveland had also not started particularly well, with a record of 5-6 in the first full season since the arrival of the player from the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, Harden chose one of the most special venues in the NBA to remind everyone of his scoring ability. He finished the game against the Knicks with 9 out of 14 shooting, including an impressive 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. His performance had a decisive moment with a three-pointer that broke the tie with 4:21 left and helped the Cavaliers secure an important victory.

James Harden explains his transformation in the NBA

After the game, Harden himself acknowledged that his role on the court has changed considerably over the years. The player who strung together three consecutive seasons averaging over 30 points in Houston understands that he can no longer approach basketball in the same way he did five or six seasons ago.

"It's my eighteenth season, so I call myself James Harden, and I used to score a lot of points. Now I still score, but I try to find other ways to impact the game. I think that's something people probably don't understand," he explained.

The guard also recalled that criticism has never disappeared, regardless of his statistics. When he averaged 36 or 35 points per game, some questioned whether he could win playing that way. When he reduced his numbers to around 20 points, the criticism continued.

"The most important thing for me is that people are going to talk. So I focus on myself, on the things I need to do, on getting in really good shape, and on knowing my teammates. I'm also learning to play a different style of basketball because I'm no longer the same quick person I was five or six years ago," he added.

Cleveland doesn't need the Harden from Houston

One of the keys to Harden's adaptation in Cleveland lies in his athletic partnership with Donovan Mitchell. The guard is still searching for the right formula to share the spotlight with another of the NBA's big stars, in a team that doesn't require him to take on all the offensive responsibility.

Coach Kenny Atkinson has insisted that the Cavaliers do not expect to get back the Harden who dominated the league in Houston. For three consecutive seasons, the American averaged 30.4, 36.1, and 34.3 points, becoming one of the most dominant scorers in recent NBA history.

Atkinson believes that his current player is comfortable in a different role and had noticed positive signs in his recent performances. Although Harden had only totaled five baskets and six turnovers in the previous two games, the coach saw small flashes of recovery.

"I think some players need more time than others to find their rhythm. I had seen flashes of James in the previous three or four games. I could see how he was recovering his level and getting closer to his best shape. That's why it's nice that he was able to confirm it tonight," he said.

The setting may have influenced him as well. Harden shares the record with Kobe Bryant for the highest points scored by a visiting player at Madison Square Garden, with 61 points, and Atkinson believes that great stars particularly enjoy playing in New York.

The Cavaliers hope that this performance is not just an isolated episode. With 32 points and a prestigious victory over the Knicks, Harden has shown that he can still deliver performances reminiscent of his best years, although his challenge now is to find consistency and do so without needing to bear all the offensive weight of the team.