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James Harden gives Rockets fans brutal reminder before chance to rewrite legacy

James Harden scored 9 points in Game 7
ByDaniel O'Connor|
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May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) walks off the court after game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) walks off the court after game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are officially headed to the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to their 125-94 Game 7 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Cavaliers are led, in part, by a familiar face to Rockets fans: James Harden.

Harden will be playing in his first Conference Finals since he led the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals in 2018. Although Houston fans should be happy for Harden, his performance in the critical game against Detroit may have brought back some painful memories.

Harden’s Game 7 performance is something Rockets fans know all too well

The Rockets legend failed to give his team much of a boost in the win-or-go-home game. He scored only 9 points on 2-for-10 shooting.

That stat line will bring back nightmares for Houston. In 2017, Harden scored 10 points on 2-for-11 shooting in a losing effort in Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Despite everything Harden has accomplished in his Hall of Fame career, he still carries the label of someone who does not always show up in big games. Much of that reputation was formed during his time in Houston, but he also struggled in major playoff moments with Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

Cleveland will need the 11-time All-Star to produce consistently if it wants to beat the Knicks, and especially if it wants to beat whatever juggernaut comes out of the West.

Harden has a chance to change his reputation

Rockets fans would have preferred Harden to change that reputation in Houston, but it is still nice to see him back in the Conference Finals. At 36 years old, Harden does not have much time left to add one of the only trophies missing from his résumé: the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

If Harden can play a prominent role on a championship team, that will always be mentioned first when people talk about his legacy. His previous playoff shortcomings will not be remembered nearly as prominently.

Even though Harden left Houston on a sour note, he gave the city basketball relevance for eight seasons. Rockets fans should be rooting for him to change his reputation with a championship.

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