James Harden played through a fractured right thumb Sunday. Then he explained why.
The Cavaliers guard returned after a two-game absence and finished with 22 points on just nine shots, along with eight assists and nine rebounds is the win over the Nets.
Afterward, Harden made it clear the decision to play was never complicated.
“Just love to play basketball — even without the money,” he said, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “Basketball is something that we do and it’s a safe place. As you get better and start studying the game and learning more and get comfortable and then you keep getting better and better at it, it’s the same with anything. You just get addicted to it.”
At 36, Harden knows the runway isn’t endless.
“I’m blessed to be able to play in this league for as long as I have,” he said. “I have a few more years left to play basketball, so want to definitely cherish them and not have any regrets playing.”
Playing with a broken thumb? That fits the mindset.
The Cavs (38-24) host the Pistons on Tuesday, a rematch of Friday’s overtime loss with the Eastern Conference leaders. By all accounts, Harden will play this time.
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