The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. On Sunday night, they secured their 38th win of the season by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 106-102.
It was an important victory for Cleveland as the team continues to push for a strong playoff position. However, despite the win, a postgame comment from veteran star James Harden drew significant attention across the NBA.
James Harden Acknowledges NBA Career Nearing End
After the win, Harden was asked by a reporter how much longer he believes he will continue playing in the NBA. The 36-year-old responded directly, acknowledging that his career is nearing its conclusion.
“I know it’s coming soon. Hopefully, later than soon, but it’s a reality. Everybody has to go through this at some point,” Harden said during the postgame interview.
“Just trying to continue to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens in the next few years. Take one game at a time and cherish the moments.”
James Harden on how much longer he wants to play: “I know it’s coming soon. Hopefully, later than soon, but it’s a reality. Everybody has to go through this at some point. Just trying to continue to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens in the next few… pic.twitter.com/BPvW7Fwtfj
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) March 2, 2026
Harden’s career began in 2009 when he was selected as the third overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, he has played for multiple teams.
His career path included stops with the Houston Rockets, where he became one of the league’s most dominant scorers, followed by stints with the Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Clippers
Ahead of this year’s trade deadline, he was traded to the Cavaliers. At 36, Harden continues to perform at an elite level. In Sunday’s game against Brooklyn, he scored 22 points and reached another historic milestone.
During the game, Harden made eight of his 12 free throw attempts, moving into third place on the NBA’s all-time free throws made list. He passed Hall of Famer Moses Malone in the process. Only Karl Malone and LeBron James remain ahead of him on that leaderboard.
Congrats to @JHarden13 of the @cavs for moving up to 3rd on the all-time FREE THROWS MADE list! pic.twitter.com/gpHudWhrju
— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2026
As for the game itself, the Cavaliers started strong and held a five-point lead after the first quarter. Their momentum slowed in the second quarter, however, as they managed just 17 points. By halftime, Cleveland trailed by six.
The team responded with determination in the second half, scoring 60 points over the final two quarters. The Nets struggled to keep pace and ultimately fell short.
Up next for the Cavaliers is a matchup against the Detroit Pistons, with attention once again focused on Harden and his performance.
