Brooklyn’s Big 3 officially became an All-Star 3 when James Harden was named to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the March 7 All-Star Game.
It is the first time that the Nets have three All-Stars in the same season.
Durant and Irving were selected as starters and Harden will go to Atlanta as a reserve, having just been eliminated by Irving from the Eastern Conference guard vote. But given Harden’s great play since joining the Nets, he’s closer to an MVP contender than an All-Star snub.
“James, I mean, clearly an All-Star, all-world player has brought so much to our team: leadership, making the game and scoring the ball,” Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said before Tuesday night’s official announcement on TNT. ‘He has been excellent. We are grateful to have it. “
It was the ninth consecutive year that Harden has been named an All-Star, the second longest active streak of such selections behind LeBron James ’17 straight. (Durant has been named in the past 11 seasons he has played in, he missed 2019-20 after Achilles surgery).
“For the All-Star Game that’s always a blessing. That means you’re doing something right, that means you’re playing extremely well up to that point, ” said Harden, scoring 29 points, along with 14 assists and 11 rebound in the Nets’ 127-118 win over the Kings on Tuesday. . . “You never want to take such opportunities for granted. So I am blessed. I am lucky to be part of my ninth All-Star game. “
As the lead teller in the Eastern Conference, Durant will be captain and select Team Durant. He will choose James in the 2021 NBA All-Star Draft, which will be televised March 4 at 8 p.m. on TNT.
Since James gets the best pick in the first round (when starters are selected), this means Durant gets first pick from the reserve pool. It’s hard to imagine a better resume than Harden, who is arguing for another MVP trophy.
Since joining the Nets in a four-team mega trade, Harden averaged 24.9 points on Tuesday on white-hot 50.2 percent shooting overall and 41 percent from deep. But even more than his own transgression, he has made all others better.
He saw a Brooklyn team that had struggled to the glass, so he averaged 8.3 rebounds, heading for a career high. He’s taken an elite strike and made it historic by handing out a league-high 11.4 assists – pacing for a new career best.
“I don’t want to diminish how great he is, because I kind of expected this; you’ve seen him play so many times, ”Nash said. “I’ll say this: it’s even more impressive when he’s on your team and he’s throwing step-back 3s in no time. That is wonderful to have in your arsenal.
“However, I would say, what stood out to me more because I work with him here is his leadership, his attitude, his dedication. A total pro, and he’s been such an important piece not only on the floor, but in the way he’s been a leader for this group. I thought so, I didn’t know what to expect, and it was amazing to see what kind of leader and professional he is. “
That leadership was evident with Harden not only helping Brooklyn survive but thriving during Durant’s five-game absence. The Nets are 13-5 when Harden plays, and 5-1 when he starts next to Durant and Irving.
He is a very willing passer-by. He is a smart player. He gets it, ”said Landry Shamet. “He understands what defenses try to do most of the time, and he is a man who wants to involve others because he understands the value of it not only for himself, but also for the rest of the team.
‘It was great playing with him. He is a good leader, a good communicator, and we are still growing. There is plenty of room for us to grow and develop. But he has been great. “
The Nets haven’t had more than two All-Stars since Julius Erving, Larry Kenon, Billy Paultz, and Brian Taylor made the cut in 1974-75. But that was when they were still in the ABA and in the middle of a nomadic existence. This Big 3 offers another level of promise … and a shot at an NBA title.