Patrick Beverley says there’s only one reason why he’s taking James Harden over Dwyane Wade
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden might not be the scoring machine he was earlier on in his pro tenure with the Houston Rockets, but he’s still been a highly impactful offensive player this season. He’s averaging 22.6 points and 8.7 assists per contest in the 2024-25 campaign and earned an All-Star nod this season for the first time with Los Angeles.
Harden’s former teammate on the Rockets Patrick Beverley factored in Harden’s longevity as he dropped a controversial take regarding him and Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade. Beverley said that he would take Harden over Wade.
“I seen the comparison with James Harden and D-Wade,” Beverley said. “While I’m taking James Harden over D-Wade, it’s only because longevity.”
Wade played 16 seasons in the league, and Harden is currently in his 16th NBA season. While a majority of Harden’s days in the NBA are certainly already behind him, the 35-year-old is playing at a level where he could still have multiple solid seasons left.
It’s worth noting that Harden has 11 All-Star nods to his name in his 16th season, while Wade made 13 All-Star appearances in a pro career that spanned the same number of seasons.
But the debate is interesting, especially because Harden has three scoring titles and one league MVP award. Wade never won a league MVP award, but he did capture a scoring title.
One area of their resumes where Wade has the clear edge over Harden is team success. Wade helped the Heat win three NBA titles and was one of the team’s top players in every one of those title runs. Harden, on the other hand, has yet to win a title in the league and hasn’t played in an NBA Finals since all the way back in 2012, when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ironically, it was Wade’s Heat who beat Harden’s Thunder in 2012 for the championship.
But it’s worth noting that Harden has knocked on the door of another NBA Finals appearance since then. Harden’s Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the 2018 Western Conference Finals. The Rockets held a lead in halftime of that deciding Game 7, but the wheels fell off for Houston in the second half of the contest.
Jazz Host Houston Rockets To Close Six-Game Homestand
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night in the final game of a six-game homestand.
The Jazz are 1-4 over their last five games, and have already guaranteed themselves the worst home record in franchise history.
Related: Jordan Clarkson Out For Remainder Of 2024-25 Season
Jazz Host Rockets To Finish Homestand
After facing the Rockets, the Jazz will head out on the road to for a five-game road trip before playing their final two home games of the season. The regular season will end with a one off road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 13.
The Jazz will face a tough back-to-back on Friday, traveling to Denver to face the Nuggets after hosting the red-hot Rockets.
Houston owns the second-best record in the West at 47-26 and sit 1.5 games ahead of the Nuggets in the Western Conference standings.
The Jazz will make stops in Charlotte, Houston, Indiana, and Atlanta before returning home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on April 9.
With just nine games left to play, the Jazz own the worst record in the NBA at 16-47, 0.5 games behind the 16-46 Washington Wizards.
According to Tankathon.com, the Jazz own the sixth-toughest remaining schedule, while ESPN projects the Jazz to win two more games before the season ends.
Utah Jazz Injury Report
OUT – Jordan Clarkson (foot)
OUT – Lauri Markkanen (return to conditioning)
OUT – John Collins (ankle)
OUT – Taylor Hendricks (leg)
Houston Rockets Injury Report
QUESTIONABLE – Amen Thompson (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE – Steven Adams (wrist)
OUT – Reed Sheppard (thumb)
How To Watch, Stream Jazz Vs. Rockets
The Jazz will host the Houston Rockets on Friday at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10- 12 p.m. with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
