‘I just work hard, play basketball, and let everybody else talk’

James Harden recently gave an exclusive interview to Sports Seriously of USA Today Sports discussing his career, personality and future.

In his conversation with Mackenzie Salmon, Harden also talked about the ‘bad guys’ and ‘good guys’ of the NBA, flopping, plus Lionel Messi‘s effect on the world of sports in the United States.

You are entering your 15th season in the NBA. When you look back on your journey to this point, what are some of the things that you’ve learned along the way? And what do you want, personally, these next handful of years to look like for yourself.

James Harden: I learned it’s a business. And overall, I think I’ve had an unbelievable career. I’ve accomplished so many things individually, and as a team, and for me, there are so many more things that I feel like I need to accomplish and want to accomplish. Just as a kid, I mean, like, not really having a dream or having a vision to make it to the NBA.

And like you said, this upcoming season is my 15th year; I’ve done more than anyone can ask for. So with that being said, I’m not settling, and I still want more; I still feel like I need more to accomplish. So I’ll continue to work hard, do the things, and put the work in… until I can’t play basketball anymore. And then, after that, I will start venturing off and making sure my wine brand gets where it needs to and other things that I’ve got going on.

Being in the league for 15 seasons, you’ve seen many transformations across the league. Entering this season with some pretty substantial changes, most notably the in-season tournament. So as a veteran of the game, what’s your take on it and what are the biggest positives and negatives you think may come from that?

JH: I’m not sure because we haven’t played yet. But I can give you a little bit more information once it happens, but just beforehand, I think the excitement around the tournament is going to have the fans more engaged. The game is global, and it’s continuing to grow. But with the excitement around the fans, the NBA, and the players, many more viewers will watch it. I think it’ll give us more competitiveness. Obviously, we’re competitive during the season, but it will give us something to compete for within the season. So I’m excited for I’m sure a lot of the players are excited for as well.

When you were drafted into the league, it was David Stern’s hand that you shook on that stage. A lot of people regard him as the greatest commissioner of all time. What would you say are the biggest differences between him and Adam Silver? Like how would you say each one of them has impacted the game in their own ways?

JH: The league has grown in the last 15 years. From the money perspective to the awareness, the number of people coming from different countries that are playing in the NBA,  and so forth. So, David Stern did an unbelievable job of making sure the league is where it is now and allowing it to grow and open up new doors. And then Adam is doing the same thing carrying our wave and making this game even bigger. So both are unbelievable commissioners, and both have done an unbelievable job making sure this game grows and allows people like myself and all other NBA players to take care of their families. 

Something the NBA is cracking down on this upcoming season is flopping. The opposing team will get a free-throw for flopping. I’m just curious what your thoughts are on that.

JH: They put the rule in, you know, a few years ago, and then they just kind of like went away from it. So I mean, honestly, like, it doesn’t affect me. I’m sure that will happen for everyone in the league because it’s part of the game. If it happens, it happens; you shoot a free throw and then move on. They’re just trying to put more authenticity into the game, and I’m here for it.

Another thing that has evolved in the NBA is the relationship between fans and players. It has become kind of like wrestling. Fans love to root and engage with the ‘bad guys’ just as much as the ‘good guys’. Do you feel that’s good for the sport?

JH: No comment. You can tell from my social; I just stay out of the way and don’t respond to anything. I don’t go back and forth for anything. I just work hard, play basketball, and let everybody else talk. So I don’t consider myself a good guy. I don’t consider myself a bad guy. I just do my job and stay out of the way, and that’s been my mindset my entire career. I don’t do things for attention because I just don’t.

Player empowerment has also grown in the league. You know, for example, like Damian Lillard right now. He’s basically saying he only wants to play for Miami. When it comes to the player empowerment, do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing for a player to kind of dictate where they want to play in the league?

JH: I see both sides of it. I see both sides because I went through it… to where the organization wants to do what’s best for them – they don’t want just to give a player that basically is one of the best players they’ve ever had in their organization away for nothing, so I get the organization side. And then I get the player side, as far as wanting to play and be somewhere, whether it’s because it’s the right situation for you, your family, or yourself or whatever that person is going through.

So I see both sides. If they can meet in the middle and kind of come to an agreement and figure it out, then that’s like the best scenario. I wouldn’t want an organization to send a player somewhere where they wouldn’t want to be… because you’ve built a real relationship with that person. That person has done so many great things for your organization. But then you don’t want to give that player away for nothing. So I get both sides. So just find a balance, meet in the middle, and hopefully both sides can come to an agreement.

Messi is here, the Women’s World Cup is underway. You’re a minority owner in Houston, so soccer obviously means something to you. Where do you think it’s heading in the United States?

JH: We’re trying to find someone to come to Houston. We all know how unbelievable Messi is… I mean, he’s going to do his thing. We need someone to come to Houston. I’m not recruiting anybody, this is not a recruitment. I’m just expressing how I feel. The MLS is growing rapidly. You see somebody like Messi come to the MLS, and it’s gonna start happening continuously. And that’s a huge thing. Because in America, we don’t really get that recognition for having a lot of soccer players. So the league is gonna continue to build, and we’re gonna see some really good players develop, and it’s gonna be good for the soccer culture in the US.

Story originally appeared on HoopsHype