James Harden responds to Draymond Green's criticism of his 'trend-setting' play
James Harden believes his ability to draw fouls isn't 'unnatural'
Always loquacious, Draymond Green was even more so when defending his frequent high kicks this week. Green was voicing his opinion because he had landed a kick to the head of James Harden in Golden State's 132-127 double-overtime loss to the Rockets on Thursday. His kick directly contributed to the Warriors losing their third game of the season.
While stating his case, Green had called out Harden for how the Rockets' All-Star guard draws fouls. Green believes Harden's ability to draw fouls is unnatural.
"But if you're going to say it's an unnatural thing," Green said via the San Jose Mercury News' Anthony Slater. "An unnatural act, no offense to James Harden, but I've never seen nobody up until James started doing it that shoots a layup like this under your arm (sweeps arms in a demonstration). That's really not a natural act, either. That's not a natural basketball play, either."
Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver asked Harden about Green's comments and, unsurprisingly, Harden disagrees with the Warriors big man:
"I wouldn't call it unnatural," Harden said. "For me, I just go to the basket and go up with two hands like you're taught. If you grab my arm it's a foul. That's pretty natural in the sport of basketball, in any league. I don't know about whatever else [Green] has got going on."
Harden then pointed out that his move is natural enough to be imitated.
"Some people are copying mine as well," he said. "I'm not going to say any names, but you've got a lot of people doing my moves, going to the basket, looking for contact, all that stuff. That's what you call being a trend-setter, that's what you call being somebody people look up to. It's a great feeling for me."
Calling himself a trend-setter may be a bit much but Harden has a point. Getting to the free-throw line is a skill and from time to time, players attack the basket with the hopes of drawing a foul, much like Harden does.
However, while Harden's ability to draw fouls may seem exaggerated at times, he's not endangering other players, which is what Green has been doing with his kicks.
















