NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Kevin Durant #7, James Harden #13, Joe Harris #12, and DeAndre ... [+]
James Harden’s debut with the Brooklyn Nets was historic.
And he and his new franchise couldn’t have dreamed up a better beginning.
In his first game since the blockbuster trade that brought him over from Houston, Harden went for 32 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds and four steals as the Nets won their third straight, 122-115, over Orlando at Barclays Center.
Harden became the seventh player to notch a triple-double in his team debut and the first player ever to notch a 30-point triple-double in his debut. His 14 assists were the most ever for a Nets player in his first game. He almost had a quadruple-double with nine turnovers, something he wasn’t pleased about. He scored or assisted for a total of 63 points, third-most all-time for a player in his debut.
Asked what that all meant by Michael Grady of the YES Network, Harden said “Nothing, I’m just glad we came away with the win. Those stats don’t mean anything, I just try to do everything on the court in my ability to help the team win. I’m just glad we came away with a win, now we gotta get ready for the next game.”
Kevin Durant poured in 42 points on 16-of-26 shooting in his first game playing alongside his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate. Joe Harris added 17 points and Jeff Green 10 for Brooklyn (8-6). Kyrie Irving missed his sixth game for personal reasons or violating NBA Covid protocols.
“When you’re paying with really, really good players, its pretty easy,” Harden said. “For me, I just gotta learn reads, learn where guys like the ball, just learn our personnel individually so once I get that, the turnovers will cut down, I can be more efficient.”
After saying Friday he planned to be more of a facilitator alongside his new teammates, Harden clearly looked to get his teammates involved early.
He made a behind -the-back pass to Green for a three. He made a nifty dish to Harris for a layup. He fed Harris with a long pass in transition. He made a steal off a Cole Anthony pass. In the second half, he dribbled to the basket, drawing several defenders and fed a bullet pass to Durant for a three. After scoring eight points with seven assists and five rebounds in the first half, he then began to take on more of a scoring load himself, scoring 22 points after the break.
“James, he played the same way he always played, to be honest,” Durant said. “He played the same way he was playing in Houston, being a pass-first guard, trying to get guys good looks. He played the same way.
“Coach put him at the point, I think that’s his natural position, is point and combo guard. For him to get 14 assists, 12 rebounds for us at the point guard was key.”
Said Harris: “I think it’s exciting. The talent, the level of play, the energy and the camaraderie we had, it felt like we had been playing together a long time.”
Harris said it will be especially difficult for opposing teams to defend all of the Nets’ offensive weapons.
“You can try I suppose to double one of those guys, but if you double James, it’s going to be hard to go and double Kevin if he catches the ball or double Kyrie if he catches the ball,” Harris said. “Or if you leave me or another guy that’s a shooter out there, it’s very much a pick your poison type of scenario.”
First-year coach Steve Nash loved what he saw.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” first-year Nets coach Steve Nash said. “We had a pretty big simple size of him doing that [for] however many years in he’s been in the league. But it’s still not easy. He’s still not in his best condition yet, he’s joined a new group.
“Basically no practice time, and figured it out on the fly. He had a bunch of turnovers just because he’s new to the team and the group and you’re thrown out there in an NBA where the other team is an excellent coached-basketball team....But all the things he did on the floor were incredible for his first game.”
Nash said before the game that Harden’s natural position is point guard, so it will be intriguing how he fits in with Irving once he returns, whether it’s on Monday or later. Nash said pre-game the timing of his return was “to be determined.”
“Throwing Kyrie in the mix makes us better,” Nash said. “It’s a good problem to have, trying to figure out how they can coexist to their highest level and standard.
“So I think it takes time, it’s going to be an adjustment for everyone but it’s an incredible problem to have and something that I think we’ll relish.”
Said Harden: “I’m so excited for Ky to get back, he’s a key piece to what we do...Hopefully next game we have Ky back and just keep this thing rolling.”
