Similar to other veteran guards with lightning-quick hands, James Harden is a deflection machine. He utilizes the IQ gifted to him, much of which was developed during his years growing up and at Arizona State, to time the perfect moment to dislodge the ball from the offensive player's hands.
For most guards, it is seen as a risk, as even a split second can go unaccounted for, allowing the offensive player to walk freely into the lane or tally an easy assist. However, Harden's experience has given him the rare instinct to know when the right time is to roll the dice safely.