FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014
06/02/2015
League
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Harden's MVP candidate season

HOUSTON (NBA/FIBA Basketball World Cup) – NBA fans have not had to wait until the All-Star Weekend to see the sport's top players showcase their skills and incredible talent this season.

Superstars like James Harden of the Houston Rockets have made plenty of jaw-dropping plays already in 2014-15.

Harden has been in truly dazzling form, just as he was with the USA at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

He amazed in Bilbao, Barcelona and finally Madrid as the Americans reached the top of the podium.

Harden ended up averaging more than 14 points and three assists per game.

The captain then accepted the Naismith Trophy.

Playing for the United States at the London Olympics and then again at the World Cup, where he had even more responsibility, has helped Harden take important steps in his career.

USA coach Mike Krzyzewski needed a lot from Harden in Spain, including his leadership.

"It is always great to compete in an international tournament and I had to be an example for my teammates as I was one of the oldest of the roster," he said. 

"I learned a lot about being a better leader and I really enjoyed giving advice to the youngest players."

Harden is only 25 and has plenty of time to help the Americans capture even more awards in the coming years.

He admits the World Cup experience has left him wanting more.

"The feeling of being a world champion is incredible," he said. 

"We played very well during the whole tournament and we deserved to win the gold medal. 

"It was one of the best moments of my career so far and I will never forget the moment when I lifted the trophy.

"It was my second gold medal after the one I won at the 2012 Olympics and I really enjoy playing for the national team. 

"I want to win the most titles I can during my career and I would like to win more gold medals with Team USA." 

Harden has used his second title run with the USA as a platform to have a magnificent season with the Houston Rockets.

While teaming up with Dwight Howard, Harden has been so good, so electric, that he is right now a candidate for the MVP award at the end of the season. 

Harden in his sixth NBA season and putting up career-best numbers 27ppg, 6.8apg, 5.6rpg.

He is currently leading the league in scoring.

"I am very happy about what I have been doing on the court so far this season," Harden said.

"I am very comfortable with my teammates and confident about my game.

"Things are going well and I want to have an incredible second part of the season."  

When he was Oklahoma City, Harden was considered the sixth man and played that role as well as anyone in the league.

"I have been improving a lot since I arrived to Houston," he said. 

"I am more mature and I like to be one of the leaders of the team. I also like to be a player that has a lot of responsibility. I am not afraid to be a clutch player, not at all." 

Frequently criticized for his lack of defense, Harden thinks that he has been better at that aspect of his game since the beginning of the season.

"I know that a lot of people have been focusing on that, but I think that I have been solid on the defensive end this season," he said. 

"As a leader, I need to be good on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. It is not only me, but the whole team has been solid defensively."

Houston are right in the thick of things in the Western Conference.

There are a lot of games to be won in the Regular Season, and then the play-offs, before the club can start to think about winning its first NBA crown since 1995.

"The season has been going very well for us so far," Harden said. 

"The roster has changed a lot but we have a good chemistry on the court. We have some more room for improvement and we will keep working hard in order to be at our best level for the beginning of the playoffs.

"Our biggest improvement has been on the defensive end. We are now between the best defensive teams of the NBA. We need to keep playing the same way we have been doing so far."

Harden accepts that there are a lot of other hungry sides also going for glory.

"A lot of teams have the potential to reach the NBA Finals but we want to fight for a ring," Harden said. 

"The Rockets have been showing since the beginning of the season that we can be ambitious."

FIBA