Prediction of 2012 NBA 6th Man of the Year: James Harden

This may very well be the easiest of all the honors to predict in the 2011-12 NBA season. A prediction I made just a few weeks after post lockout games began and I saw that Harden hadn’t missed a step. The slow rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top of the league appears to be sudden for those that have either not been fully involved in any team other than their own or simply not fully paying attention to all 30 NBA teams. Which to be fair, not everyone can or cares to do.

In what has become the most well built team in the NBA through trades, draft picks and key re-signings, the Oklahoma City Thunder play nothing short of perfect basketball. Unselfish offensive attitudes, dedicated defense and are supported by what is likely the deepest bench led by James Harden.

Similar to Manu Ginobili, the most well known bench player who by all means would be starting on 90% of NBA teams, still comes off the bench to suit the team’s style of play which gives them the best chance of winning.

James Harder comes off the bench behind the highest scoring duo in the NBA in Durant and Westbrook at 51.9 points per game, which is followed by Lebron and Wade’s 49.3 in Miami and Kobe and Pau’s 45.1 in Los Angeles, which for any 6th man is a lot of pressure. However, Harden is not phased by this and goes out and plays his style of play, never compromising the teams system for personal gain. In his first 3 years of professional play, Harden has improved his stats in almost every statistical category.

From 2009-2012, his scoring averages increased from 9.9, 12.2 to 16.9. Assists went from 1.8, 2.1 to 3.8 with rebounds somewhat the same however still statistically increasing. To be fair, his minutes have also increased from 22.9, 26.7 to 31.8, because he is now forced to help fill the void left by point guard Eric Maynor who went out a few months back with a season ending surgery.

Considering Oklahoma’s 40-13 record, 23-5 home record, 17-8 road record and as long as Harden can stay injury free and continue having stater type performances coming off the bench, as I said earlier, this may very well be the easiest of all the honors to predict.