> James Harden in Philadelphia will not be chasing scoring titles and dominating the game in quite the same way. Instead, he’s been asked to be more of a facilitator — but not too much of one. Doc Rivers told the team at ESPN’s NBA Today he wants scoring to go with the facilitating. Just like one of the all-time greats.
> “I think we’ve talked so much about him being a facilitator… I need him to be James Harden too. If I had to combine, I would say a scoring Magic Johnson, I don’t know, but that’s what I want him to be. I want him to be a James Harden, but in that, I want him to also be the facilitator of this basketball team too. So in a lot of ways, his role is growing bigger for our team, and I just want him to keep thinking, ‘Do both.’”
> Just play like Magic, no pressure there. For his career, Magic averaged 19.5 points a game (with four over 20 PPG) with 11.2 assists.
[Article](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/10/05/doc-rivers-says-he-wants-harden-to-be-a-scoring-magic-johnson/) and [Video](https://youtu.be/ob_8cYdRQz4)
by iksnet
37 Comments
sounds like lebron james, it sure would be nice if harden could be lebron james this year
If we could start slow and fire doc I would be so happy
after a 2nd round game 7 loss.
reporter: doc do you think this team can win a championship with harden?
doc: idk how to answer that. i would say though if we had a scoring magic johnson, we could compete
“is it too much to ask of Harden to be LeBron James? Maybe, but that’s what I need him to be”
I miss when Harden shot like 13 step backs a game
No pressure
“Just be magic but with more scoring, bro”
So doc wants him to be a better version of a top 10 player of all time. Gotcha
why not jordan but with more assists?
He has no interest in being the scorer he used to be
“I need him to be Ben Simmons with a jump shot.”
2020 LeBron coming right up
To this day I can’t figure out why Philly thought that after completely failing in LA, that he would somehow do better. He’s got to be up there as one of the most overrated coaches in history.
If CP3 can have a resurgence, I know Harden can. He’s been an Ironman his whole career.
Does Doc even know wtf he’s saying anymore?
And I expect Fox to be fast Michael Jordan and Sabonis to be passing Shaq!
Doc Rivers is like an Asian parent. Kid is born, there are expectations to be a doctor. Kid shows some athletic ability, there are expectations to be a doctor. Kid tells their parents they want to be an actor or artist, there are expectations to be a doctor.
Ah yes, the archetype of “Magic Johnson but a better scorer,” almost as common as 3 & D guys. We keep telling Mobley to just be Bill Russell but score 20 a game.
“Bro just be a top 10 player of all time BUT BETTER”
His name is James, don’t ask whether it’s his first or last name, James. We all know James
Harden doesn’t have the explosiveness any more, and he’s hiding it by saying he wants to be a facilitator
Doc already submitting his resume to get fired lmao
The James Harden of old is no more. He can’t do it anymore.
I think Magic’s problem may have been that he was scoring too much
Oh I can’t wait for Doc to throw someone under the buss by January for not meeting the unrealistic expectations
yeah if you could just have MJ’s scoring and Magic’s facilitating, maybe throw in Hakeem’s defending and Steph’s shooting, that’d be greeeeeeeat
So, Lebron?
He wants him to be a better version of a player that is light-years above harden lol. This man was lucky to win one chip. He best go kiss kg’s ring
So basically Lebron?
This is an excellent copypasta
He just needs to be a 7-foot MJ
Is Doc starting to be annoying or am I just being cruel? He seems to never have a real plan.
Joel Embiid being Wilt Chamberlain with the leadership of Bill Russell and the shooting of Steph would be nice as well. Maybe even add in a bit of Steve Nash passing that would be nice as well
“I think if he can be a better version of top 6 player ever, we’ll be in good shape.”
I want James Harden to be LeBron with a better hairline.
James Harden is completely capable of that too
Harden should 100% be the first option. Harden putting up 20 shots means that Embiids shots are going to be 2x easier.
You’re misusing Harden if you use him how Nets and Sixers have used him. He was such a good playmaker in Houston because he was scoring like a madman and was able to get easy ass assists. He just needs to spam the PnR and you’ll get insane value.