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Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden is one of the biggest what-ifs in basketball. Although he is still one of the best players in the league, people around the world criticize him for his off-court activities. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently commented on Harden.

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Talking on The Big Podcast with Shaq, co-host Nichelle Turner talked about Harden’s insane body transformation. Apparently, the former MVP lost around 100 pounds of weight. Shaq said, “First of all, those are not muscles. Cut it out. He just got skinny, he looks good.”

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Moreover, he talked about having a liking for the 76ers star. Despite criticizing him in the past, Shaq asserted that he wants only the best for James Harden.

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One of the biggest talking points around Harden is his motivation and his partying habits. Interestingly enough, Harden once spent around $1 million in a single night while at a strip club! 

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Talking about James’ life outside the court, Shaq said, “In this era where the basketball players are living in, your extracurricular activities are seen. I’m not gonna talk about him going and hanging out with rappers, I’m into that.”

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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal knows all about being criticized for his off-court activities. The former Los Angeles Lakers star was also known for his partying habits and not having the motivation to play.

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Shaquille O’Neal once bashed James Harden for career changing move

James Harden‘s best time in the NBA undoubtedly came with the Houston Rockets. He won an MVP award while establishing himself as one of the best players during his time with the Rockets.

However, he fell out with the team and joined the Brooklyn Nets. This reunited him with former teammate Kevin Durant and NBA star Kyrie Irving.

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Shaquille O’Neal clearly wasn’t happy with Harden’s decision to leave. He said, “So when it comes time to show up, he ain’t show up. So I know a lot of people in Houston [who are] glad he’s gone.

O’Neal ripped apart Harden for his attitude with the Rockets. He also talked about the fact that the Rockets pretty much gave Harden the players he wanted, however, this wasn’t enough for him.

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What is your favorite memory of James Harden? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Written by

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Abhinava Ghosh

1,823 Articles

Abhinava Ghosh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with a wealth of experience covering the league. He has written over 1400 articles for EssentiallySports, showcasing his expertise in analyzing and reporting on NBA trade rumors, injury updates, and the ever-changing dynamics of the league. He had successfully covered the entire Kevin Durant trade saga at Brooklyn, which led to the basketball legend’s move to the Desert. He also kept our readers updated on the Brittney Griner situation throughout her exile in Russia. One of Abhinava's proudest moments came in 2015 when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title after 40 years. As a lifelong fan of the Dubs, Abhinava was thrilled to see his team reach the pinnacle of the sport, but he remained objective and professional in his reporting.

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