James Harden gains unflattering distinction with Celtics’ title win

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden.

James Harden can’t be too pleased with the result of this year’s NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics officially won the NBA championship on Monday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games. One notable storyline was that 38-year-old Celtics big man Al Horford won his first career title. Horford had gone 17 seasons in the NBA and 186 total playoff games before finally securing his ring.

The five-time All-Star Horford had held the unpleasant honor of the most career playoff games by an active player without a championship. But now that he is officially out of that club, the shameful honor belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers guard Harden, who has played in 166 career playoff games and counting without a title.

Harden, now 34, has come close several times. He made the NBA Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012 and also later made conference finals appearances with the Houston Rockets in 2015 and 2018 … but fell short every single time.

On the bright side for Harden, Karl Malone (193), John Stockton (181) and Sam Perkins (167) still have more all-time playoff games without a title. The former MVP Harden also has some time left as he is still playing at a high level with averages of 16.6 points and 8.5 assists per game this year for the Clippers.

But Harden, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, has to decide if he will continue to pursue that elusive championship with the Clippers, who are in a very interesting situation right now.

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