Former NBA champion Vernon Maxwell said he would take Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over James Harden when comparing the two guards at their best, a decision he shared on the most recent episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast.
Co-host Matt Barnes asked Maxwell which player he preferred “as a player and a scorer.” Maxwell replied, “That’s tough. James, you know I love you and your mom. I’m sorry, but I’m gonna go with SGA.”
The response surprised Barnes, who noted that Gilgeous-Alexander’s style appears patterned after Harden’s peak seasons, particularly in the way both guards generate contact to reach the free-throw line.
Parallel résumés and styles
Harden and Gilgeous-Alexander share several résumé points: each spent part of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, each holds an NBA MVP award and at least one scoring title—Harden owns three—and both are frequently criticized for “foul-baiting.”
Statistically, Harden has averaged 8.2 free-throw attempts and 24.1 points per game over his career, peaking at 11.8 trips to the line in the 2019-20 season. Gilgeous-Alexander owns a 7.3 career average in free-throw attempts and 25.2 points per game; during the 2022-23 campaign he visited the stripe nearly 11 times per night. This season, Harden is scoring 24.1 points per game with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers combined, while Gilgeous-Alexander is at 31.7 points.
Both guards rely on below-the-rim craft, score in bunches and spend extensive time at the line, making Maxwell’s choice largely a matter of preference between two high-efficiency scorers.
Source: Hoops Wire
