Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons was asked about who he thought the league MVP at the halfway point of the NBA season should be before playing his former team Wednesday night, and Parsons unequivocally said it should be James Harden. Harden is leading the NBA in scoring with 27.6 ppg, and is actually playing a little defense this season, leading the Rockets to a respectable record in the competitive West, despite center Dwight Howard missing games due to injury
“For sure. He’s the best player in basketball right now,” Parsons said before his Mavericks fell 99-94 to Harden’s Rockets on Wednesday night. “The things he’s doing are incredible. The scouting report is focused in on stopping him and you see he’s still getting 30 a game. It’s impressive.”
“It doesn’t really surprise me,” Parsons said of Harden’s season so far. “I saw firsthand how talented he is. He works extremely hard. He’s playing better defense this year. He’s leading their team. He’s hitting tough shots. There’s not much he’s not doing.
“I’m happy for him. Obviously, I don’t want him to play well tonight, but I’m happy how he’s playing.”
This adoration for James Harden may come as a bit of a surprise after hey had a bit of a falling out on social media this summer when James Harden called Chandler Parsons a replaceable role player when the Rockets did not match Parsons 3 year $45 million dollar offer sheet from the Mavericks. Parsons and Harden were able to mend their relationship at the team USA training camp this summer for the World Cup games in Spain.