James Harden defends children, and hilarity ensues
As part of the NBA’s 2016 All-Star Weekend festivities in Toronto, All-Stars visited with young fans and ran through some drills in the first ever Jr. NBA Day. One All-Star, Houston Rockets scoring machine James Harden, helped youngsters work on their ball-handling, which was very nice! Unfortunately, he did so in a fashion that was predestined to set the Basketball Internet aflame with laughter: by offering token “defense” on the junior ball-handlers:
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James Harden teaching defense…….. #rockets pic.twitter.com/JXGpnsHwCA
— JRSportBrief (@JRSportBrief) February 12, 2016
The half-speed motions and half-hearted waves were like catnip to those who have killed the MVP runner-up over the years for his, shall we say, disinterested defense. It very well might already be locked into the next edition of “Shaqtin a Fool.” (Harden, to his credit, has gotten in on the joke, though Rockets general manager Daryl Morey hasn’t found it so funny.)
That said, killing Harden for not breaking down and trying to lock up children seems uncharitable! It’s not like he was the only one giving kids a mostly free pass as they worked on their handles. Check out San Antonio Spurs head coach/Western Conference bench boss Gregg Popovich:
Oh just playing some ball with Pop at @jrnba Day pic.twitter.com/OxbVcx7R1A
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 12, 2016
I’d like to see you chastise his lackadaisical stance.
All told, we’re betting the kids in attendance didn’t so mind the Beard’s reaching D nearly as much as they appreciated getting the chance to get up close and personal with one of the game’s best players:
#JamesHarden hanging out with the kids at #JrNBADay. #NBAAllStarTO pic.twitter.com/LNhC3dRO3U
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 12, 2016
And besides, if ever there’s a time for a player to take the foot off the gas a bit on the defensive end, it’d be All-Star Weekend. Kudos, then, to James Harden for fully embracing the spirit of the midseason exhibition. Now go light up the Three-Point Contest and ball out on Sunday, and give those young Torontonians a few more memories worth hanging onto for years to come.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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