James Harden has assumed Russell Westbrook’s mantle as the next NBA superstar with a monstrous usage percentage. While Westbrook has tapered off from his absurd 41.7% usage 2016-17 campaign to 34% in 17-18 and 31% this year, he remains a symbol to fans of extreme usage basketball. Although, Harden may be usurping him soon.
‘16 Westbrook is the only NBA player to ever record a usage percentage of >40 while also averaging double-digit points. The player in second? Harden, this year, with 38.9%. James Harden is the new standard for incredibly high usage basketball. He’s following in the footsteps of Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Michael Jordan.
High usage is expected of premier players, that’s why this year’s top ten for usage is littered with them: Giannis, LeBron, Russ, Embiid, Steph, and Durant. For reference, 21 of the 28 All-Stars last year had usage percentages over 25 – with a high of 36.1 from Harden. But, immense usage, 37.8% and higher, has been done by four players in history: Iverson, Jordan, Westbrook (x2), and Kobe. Two qualifiers were used for this list: at least 42 games played and more than 10 PPG.
These monstrous levels of usage originate from seasons when players create missions for themselves, have distinct lack of help, or injuries to costars. There’s a barrier of 1.3 percentage points, historically, between these monsters and the field, and rounding up Iverson’s 37.8 to 38, that buffer becomes 1.5 points. Gotham Police Commissioner Jim Gordon describes Batman in the Dark Knight as “the hero Gotham deserves, just not the one it need right now.”
These usage monsters are the heroes their teams need. ‘14 and ‘16 Westbrook had to carry the Thunder because Durant got hurt (‘14) then left (‘16). ‘05 Kobe dealt with starters Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Chris Mihm. ‘02 A.I. dealt with a lot on the court and off the court, taking it out on the court. Jordan, in his ‘86 season, wanted to reintroduce himself to the league after breaking his foot, and the other two leading scorers on the team were Charles Oakley and John Paxson. Harden is on pace to join them, trying to carry the Rockets to title contention and repeat as MVP.
Every player to be a usage monster has led the league in scoring, and by a substantial margin. They average 32.9 PPG and were leading by an average of 3.7 points. Harden echoes this, averaging 33.7 and beating Steph and Anthony Davis by five points. These monsters have defined eras and changed cultures. They also divide the fandom of the league sharply. Ask someone about Westbrook or Harden, and they have an opinion one way or another, similar to the way players like Kobe, early Jordan, and (especially) Iverson polarized the country.
Even as he’s filling the monster mold, Harden is shattering it, modernizing it. Jordan and Iverson both lived at the line, and Harden does as well – to a lesser extent, averaging 11 FTA per game. 11 a game is the third highest for a guard all-time, and league leader this season by 1.2 attempts. Where Harden separates himself from others is 3PA per game, where he averages 12.4, the highest average in league history by 1.1, and the highest monster by 5.2.
These types of players are incredible or infuriating, to watch. They change the way the game is played, take control in a way rarely seen, and subvert the detailed democracy of basketball into an authoritarian regime with the team living and dying by their decree. Unfortunately for them, when it comes down to it, it often dies.
Of the four monsters, none won a playoff series in their usage season. Even extending the monster rule to the playoffs, there are two players with playoff usage rates greater than or equal to 38% who’ve advanced multiple rounds: 92-93 Jordan (38%) and 12-13 Melo (38%). That’s not to say that the monsters were hopeless before or after their monster seasons. Iverson went to the Finals off of a 35.9% season, Westbrook made the conference finals with a 31.6% and the 2012 Finals with a 32.7%, and Bryant won two titles as a marquee player with a 32.2% and 32.3% respectively.
This is something that should give Houston fans pause, as they tout Harden’s talents this season. A monster usage season is an incredible feat, but it often comes at a cost of a short-lived postseason. While Harden’s monstrous behavior is spurred by Chris Paul’s absence, it could be here to stay.
It’s not unreasonable to expect Harden continuing a monstrous season with Paul’s return, or needing to maintain it if Paul’s absence is extended/recurring.
Harden’s putting up incredible regular season numbers, and could even be on his way to collecting his second MVP. But if he stays on this current path Iverson, Bryant, Jordan, and Westbrook are saving him a seat for their next meeting of one of the NBA’s most exclusive and divisive clubs.
Stats via Basketball-Reference current as of 1/9.