James Harden’s addition elevated the Cleveland Cavaliers to title contenders. The Eastern Conference side pulled off a major move during the 2026 NBA trade deadline by acquiring the former MVP, and has already reaped the benefits of having the veteran playmaker in its fold.
The playoff-bound Cavaliers ended their regular season with a 52-30 record and the fourth seed. They take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round, starting Saturday (April 18). Ahead of the playoffs, generating buzz was Harden’s unique request, which was a head-scratcher for Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson.
James Harden’s Surprise Request Had Cavaliers HC Kenny Atkinson Stunned
Per The Athletic, Harden made a baffling request to Atkinson and the team’s think-tank. The idea was staging walk-throughs in hotel ballrooms on game days, with no shootarounds on away fixtures. “I’m like, eh, this isn’t my thing,” Atkinson told the outlet, recalling his first reaction to the request.
However, Harden explained his method to the madness. “It’s just preparation, detail, you get ready for the game,” Harden detailed. “Physically, you get out and move around, and mentally you have to be prepared. It’s just preparation, man, especially going into this run that we are about to go into.”
“I think the focus is on making sure we know who we’re playing against and individual guys and what they like to do with their tendencies. Just going to give us an advantage and hopefully we can play better.”
Safe to say, the request and the next course of action have played a role in the team’s success. Harden and the Cavaliers made an impressive surge since his arrival, after Cleveland sent Darius Garland to the Clippers for the veteran guard. “He’s completely adapted to our style of play, which is pretty, I would assume, rare,” Atkinson added.
While the move had Atkinson feeling skeptical, he accommodated the 11-time NBA All-Star’s request. “I think film (is enough),” Atkinson said, of Harden’s request. “And then we did it, and we went through it. So we’re like communicating through it and talking through coverages, and I’m like, hey, this could be a good thing.”
Can James Harden and the Cavaliers Go the Distance in the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
Crunching the numbers, the Cavaliers are 18-6 since he laced up for the side the first time on February 7. The team’s offense has since seen a sharp rise in its offensive rating, to 119.2 being the sixth-best in the league this season.
They are only behind the Charlotte Hornets (119.4), and the number will improve as they prepare for the postseason. Harden himself has been off to a solid start with his new team. He ended his regular season with the Cavaliers, averaging 20.5 points. 4.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 26 games. His overall season stats average 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists across 70 games.
Over the last few years, the Cavaliers have cemented their case as perennial playoff contenders, but have never made a deep run. Last season, they made the conference semifinals but were ousted 4-1 by the Indiana Pacers. The season before was another 4-1 exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
This season, they will face the Raptors in the first round, and a series win against the side will see them play the winner of the first round series between the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and the team that bags the eighth seed.
Ahead of the playoffs, the Cavaliers will be aware that they went 0-3 against the Raptors in the regular season. However, the team has a different outlook with Harden on the side. ‘The Beard’ brings in rich playoff experience, high IQ, and a mode of offense that can match that of the stern test the Raptors pose this season.
