Just a few days before the NBA season kicked off, the high-stakes Houston Rockets took its second big gamble of the preseason, swinging significant assets to Oklahoma City to land the bearded Boy Wonder, James Harden. They previously tossed $25.1 million at former reserve Jeremy Lin to bring him back to H-town. In Harden, they dropped max money (5 years, $80M) for a player who had only started seven games in his professional career – and it was a no brainer.
Harden can flat out ball. The reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year scored nearly 17 points per game off the bench for the Thunder last season. Keep in mind that he was playing on a team that fielded Kevin Durant, the NBA scoring champion, and Russell Westbrook, a guy who takes shots like he’s paid per attempt. In fact, Harden was such an integral force for the Thunder that his off series in the Finals may have been the key reason his team succumbed to the Miami Heat.
While many speculated that the Thunder and its young, superstar-laden nucleus would stay together and collect a few rings, basketball is a business. After contributing to the USA’s gold medal run at the Olympics, Harden was ready to take the next step in his career. More than the money, I think Harden wanted to be a max contract guy for the prestige. He’s certainly one of the most popular players around. OKC was weary of giving him top dollar due to the luxury tax and the belief that as exciting as he is, he was still the third-best player on the team. For Harden, a max deal would legitimize him as one of the best players in the league. So it was not too surprising when he was dealt.
Harden has wasted no time in proving that Houston made the right choice. He scored 37 points in the season opener, just days after switching jerseys and zip codes. He followed that up with a whopping 45-point game to put the league on notice that he’s a real force to be reckoned with. After three games, the Rockets sport a 2-1 record while Harden is averaging 35.3 points, 6.3 assists and 6.3 rebounds. His on court awareness and aggressiveness is sure to give defenses fits all season long.
Despite the hype and hate last season, Lin also looks like he’ll live up to his lofty expectations, posting averages of 13.3 points, 7.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds. Together, the two budding stars form a fear-inducing backcourt.
Houston fans couldn’t be happier. They went from a team led by solid but mundane players such as Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry to an exciting squad with two of the most fascinating and marketable players in the league.
Of course Houston has virtually no chance of winning a NBA title this season and may again be left on the outside looking in for the playoffs in the ever-deep Western Conference. But it’s clear that superstars are needed to win in the NBA and Houston now has a pair to build its franchise around.
Uncle Drew is back
Since we’re talking max contracts, one of the more interesting ad campaigns last season was the viral Pepsi Max commercial featuring the Cavs’ Kyrie Irving as “Uncle Drew.” Irving was transformed into a senior citizen by makeup artists and went out to the park and shocked unsuspecting ballers and onlookers with his amazing handles and above the rim game. Picture getting dunked on by your grandpa.
Now Uncle Drew is back with “Chapter Two” and he’s recruited some help. In the latest video, Drew is joined on the Crenshaw courts by “Wes,” played by Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Kevin Love. The two start off slow as they working out the creaks and kinks from their aging bodies before taking over the game with crossovers, step-back three-pointers and dunks.
Even though you have to assume that some of it is staged (many of the spectators are sipping on Pepsi Max), according to the sponsor, the players at the park were simply told they were being filmed for B-roll footage for a local news station. In other words, they had no idea the old fogies were bona fide NBA stars. This is definitely one of the more creative and interesting ad campaigns in recent years.
