It’s clear to see that the rule changes regarding non-basketball moves on shots have affected James Harden.
Harden averages 8.7 free-throw attempts per game in his career – this season, he only has nine.
The rule change was due to a league-wide epidemic, but Steve Nash said Harden has “unfairly become the poster boy” of the rule changes.
“But some of them are definitely fouls, still. But they’re just so alert and aware and he is the poster child of these new decisions – I get it, there’s a line, but some of them are still fouls,” Nash told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
Nash said despite Harden not getting to the line as often as he usually does, he can’t change the way he plays.
“He’s just gotta stick with it. He’s gotta keep going to the basket and he’s gotta do what he does, because a large portion of them are still fouls, and if he doesn’t get fouls, he can still make plays. He can still finish and pass and do all the things that he does. … Keep attacking, and they’re gonna respect his skill level and his ability to get guys on his shoulder and get to the basket.”
“I’m not the type to complain about it,” Harden said. “I just ask every official, if they see a foul, just call a foul. Sometimes I feel like coming into a game, it’s already predetermined, or i already have that stigma of getting foul calls, but i just ask officials to call what they see.”