James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers is having one of the best seasons of his career.
That’s true not just because he’s scoring 21.4 points per game but also because he is healthier and more focused than he has been in years.
Because of that, his 76ers are surging in 2022-23.
Harden’s production is beyond numbers on a stat line but those numbers are definitely worth mentioning.
James Harden is on pace to lead the NBA in assists for the first time since 2017. 🤯🪙 pic.twitter.com/HCS3uBL6Qi
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) February 23, 2023
For example, for the first time since the 2016-17 season, Harden is leading the league in assists.
He is putting up 10.8 assists a night, better than his 10.3 last year and tied with his total from the 2020-21 season.
Harden is now in his second season with the 76ers, the first full year he’s spent with the team.
During the summer, he pledged to fans that he was going to be better than he has been in years.
There was some suspicion about that claim because it had been some time since Harden delivered on that promise.
For multiple seasons, there had been accusations of Harden phoning it in and not trying as hard as he should.
That was doubly true during any postseason appearances.
But that might be a thing of the past because Harden really is fired up once again and seems much more committed.
The 76ers need this burst of energy from Harden.
In the weeks ahead, they will try to hold onto their spot toward the top of the Eastern Conference.
The postseason hangs in the balance and Harden will be a major part of any success they find.
NEXT: The 76ers Have A Seriously Tough Second Half Ahead
