In a series that ended with a 37-point blowout, James Harden somehow found a way to make headlines after the final buzzer. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard, fresh off a 130-93 loss in Game 4 that completed a New York Knicks sweep, declared that his team is still the better squad. Yes, you read that right.
“It was 4-0, but I don’t think we had a chance as far as our best shot,” Harden said after the game. “They dominated us 4-0… but I don’t know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we’re the better team.”
The Knicks didn’t just win—they crushed the Cavs in every sense. After rallying from a huge deficit to take Game 1 in overtime, New York won by 16, then 13, and finally by 37 in the clincher. The series was never in doubt after the first quarter of Game 2.
Harden’s comments sparked immediate backlash across social media. One user on X wrote, “If you lose a close game 7, you can argue the better team lost. When you get swept in four, the better team objectively won.” Another fan added, “How can you watch his pathetic lack of effort on defense and then this lack of accountability and still want him back? The Harden experiment has to end.”
Throughout the four games, Harden averaged 16 points in 37 minutes per game and never cracked the 20-point mark. That’s a far cry from the superstar production that made him a former MVP. If the Cavaliers were truly the better team, you’d think their leader would have shown up when it mattered most.
The loss also reignited discussions about Harden’s legacy. Critics argue that his playoff failures—and now his refusal to accept reality—are hurting his Hall of Fame case. This isn’t the first time Harden has faced scrutiny for his postseason performances, but his latest comments may be the most tone-deaf yet. In fact, earlier this year, Max Kellerman apologized to Harden after comparing his playoff flops to Donald Trump’s leadership, but this sweep might make that comparison sting even more.
For the Knicks, the sweep means a trip to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. Their dominant play, led by Jalen Brunson’s relentless scoring and a stifling defense, proved they are the real deal. Some have even joked that Stephen A. Smith said Brunson should be arrested for assault after the way he torched Harden on both ends of the floor.
As for the Cavaliers, they head into an offseason full of questions. Harden’s contract and his future with the team are now hot topics. Can a team that just got swept really claim to be the better squad? The NBA world has already made its judgment clear.
