James Harden is on pace to have a season for the ages. With averages of 28.7 points, 12.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds through the opening 11 games of the season, he has an opportunity to become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1965-66 to dominate the stat sheet in that fashion. If there is a slight decline in those numbers as the season progresses, Harden will still likely do something we’ve only ever seen from Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Robertson.
Harden will keep posting these sorts of numbers for two reasons. First, the Rockets have put all their eggs in one basket by building a team based entirely on his strengths.