Playing in a Game 7 is often the thing of dreams for the world’s top athletes. They know everyone is watching and everything on the line. That’s usually their time to shine brightest.
Then, there’s James Harden — a player for whom the mere mention of a Game 7 causes an almost visible shudder rendering him helpless when his team needs him most.
It happened again Saturday night as Harden delivered one of his worst games of the season when the season was on the line. His seven points on 2-of-8 shooting did nothing to help the Los Angeles Clippers in a blowout Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets that was worse than the 120-101 final score. And it was completely predictable. Anyone surprised by Harden’s disappearing act hasn’t been paying attention.
In four Game 7s since 2020, Harden is averaging 13.8 points on 27.5% shooting and 16.7% from three, down from regular-season averages of 23.5 points on 43% shooting and 36% from three in that same span. This isn’t a matter of great player in a bad system. This is great player with a bad track record. Each of those four losses was with a different team; Rockets in 2020. Nets in 2021. Sixers in 2023. Clippers in 2025.
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s what we call choking.
In fact, Harden’s letdowns aren’t just reserved for Game 7s. Up against any elimination game, the former league MVP is liable to go missing. Likely knowing this bit of history about himself, Harden also went missing after the game, declining to speak with media about the loss.
As he so often does, Harden delivered a bit of false hope with a standout Game 6 where he dropped 28 points to help the Clippers stave off elimination Thursday. That only made it all the more likely he’d be MIA on Saturday. There has been no evidence over the years to suggest he’s capable of showing up for two elimination games in a row, especially not when the second is a Game 7.
Like clockwork, Harden went from dynamic scorer to traditional point guard (he had 13 assists), almost refusing to even look to score. He wasn’t the only reason the Clippers lost a game they trailed by as much as 35 points, but they were always going to need more from him to win. Unfortunately, he appears incapable of providing that and the Clippers are simply the latest team to learn that lesson the hard way.