Los Angeles Clippers superstar James Harden had quite the show during the thrilling 2024-25 NBA season. Teaming up with fellow superstar Kawhi Leonard, Harden played a crucial role in guiding the Clippers to the playoffs, where they proved their mettle in the first round against the Denver Nuggets, pushing the series all the way to a nail-biting Game 7. Sadly, their incredible journey met a tough end in that ultimate showdown.
In the high-stakes game 7, Harden put in 35 minutes, contributing seven points, dishing out 13 assists, and snagging five rebounds. Ultimately, the Clippers fell in Game 7 with a score of 101-120. Interestingly, during a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, the legendary Shaquille O’Neal spilled the beans on why Harden tends to falter when the playoffs heat up.
“When you care, I can see it in your eyes. We had a couple of Game 7s, and people didn’t step up… I already knew they wasn’t going to step up because it’s the topic of conversation. If you have the I don’t care attitude, you’re going to take 30 shots, not f***ing eight, James Harden.” O’Neal said.
Shaq thinks James Harden shrinks in big games because he cares too much about what people think
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 23, 2025
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/NjFqzoP3Uq) pic.twitter.com/pef5vEHpwY
O’Neal emphasised that when Harden steps onto the court, he is affected by public opinion. Despite being a Hall of Famer with a successful and financially rewarding career, Harden remains sensitive to the views of fans and critics.
Skip Bayless Calls Out James Harden
James Harden had an impressive season, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds across 79 games! When the playoffs rolled around, he played in every one of the seven intense games against the Nuggets, averaging 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. However, the stakes were high in that critical Game 7 against the Nuggets, and unfortunately, Harden’s performance didn’t quite live up to expectations. As a result, NBA analyst Skip Bayless didn’t hold back his criticism on a recent post on X (formerly Twitter).
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“I’LL MOST REMEMBER JAMES HARDEN’S CAREER FOR HIS MANY PLAYOFF FLAMEOUTS AND FOR THE WAY HE QUIT HIS WAY OUT OF HOUSTON TO GET TO BROOKLYN, THEN QUIT HIS WAY OUT OF BROOKLYN TO GET TO PHILADELPHIA.” Bayless wrote.
I'LL MOST REMEMBER JAMES HARDEN'S CAREER FOR HIS MANY PLAYOFF FLAMEOUTS AND FOR THE WAY HE QUIT HIS WAY OUT OF HOUSTON TO GET TO BROOKLYN, THEN QUIT HIS WAY OUT OF BROOKLYN TO GET TO PHILADELPHIA.https://t.co/U2vcIGjw56
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 23, 2025
This season turned out to be the fourth heartbreak for James Harden, as he’s faced defeat in a Game 7 yet again! Previously, he endured similar struggles with the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and Philadelphia 76ers. Following the Game 7 loss, Harden drew criticism for not speaking to the media after the game.
