The NBA's James Harden was one of California's best point guards at Artesia High School during his teen years in SoCal. His individual talent (on offense) was, and is, undeniable _ when motivated to perform at a high pro level. As he forced his way out of another franchise recently, he reflected on a key reason why he demanded another trade. He claimed that his then team, the 76ers, had put him on a leash. He described his predicament as the following: "I'm not a system player...I am the system." There you have it in a nutshell. Harden has become a solo act, a one-man operation, basically an offense (and a coach) unto himself. Defense is rarely mentioned; it's irrelevant in the Harden context. Harden has taken the me-me-me approach to fresh heights. We wish his new team, the Clippers, all the best. Good luck.
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