Cavs’ James Harden says limited summer basketball left him needing time to adjust

James Harden’s slow start involved more than getting his shots to fall. The Cavs guard has also been working his way into game shape.

According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic⁠, Harden did not arrive at training camp in good condition and is still catching up. Harden said he played little pickup basketball over the summer and anticipated an adjustment to NBA speed.

“I knew it was going to take a little bit of time to get adjusted to the speed, the pace, all of the above,” Harden said, via Vardon. “I’m not young, so I can’t just be ready (immediately), so I already knew that coming into the season.”

At 37, Harden understands that preparing his body requires a different approach than it once did. Still, the Cavs need reliable production from their starting point guard while pursuing something bigger than a playoff appearance.

That makes his conditioning relevant, especially after an uneven opening stretch. It also makes Wednesday’s performance encouraging.

Harden scored a season-high 32 points in the 115-107 win over the Knicks, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and committing just two turnovers in 33 minutes.

“So now it’s like, all right, cool, (now) I feel really good,” he said. “And the work is automatically getting put in. That’s why I have been able to last so long in this league.”

Harden described his focus as “trying to get in really good shape and learn my teammates.”

The Cavs don’t need him to recapture every part of his prime. They do need him ready to handle his responsibilities consistently. Wednesday provided evidence that he’s moving in that direction.

More Cavs: James Harden on finding his rhythm: ‘Year 18, it’s taken me a longer time than usual’⁠