It took less than a minute for the Brooklyn Nets’ big 3 to hit an injury snag.
Nets star James Harden exited Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks after 43 seconds due to an apparent hamstring issue. Harden could be seen pulling up after a drive on the Nets’ first possession of the game:
The Brooklyn Nets lost James Harden to a hamstring injury in the opening minute of Game 1 of their best-of-seven series against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. While lesser teams may have rolled over and used that as an excuse for their performance from that point forward, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving led the Nets to a 115-107 victory at Barclays Center.
With Harden ruled out after an early hamstring injury, it was Irving, Durant, and Blake Griffin who picked up the slack as the trio combined for 72 points, 29 rebounds, and 14 assists to lead Brooklyn. In the end, their production coupled with what the Nets received from their supporting cast proved to be too much for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to overcome.
With the win, Brooklyn jumps out to a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 will be played on Monday night with the opening tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and TNT handling the broadcast.
Here are three key takeaways from the game:
1. Harden goes down with hamstring injury
On the Nets’ first possession on Saturday night, James Harden drove to the basket and kicked the ball out to Joe Harris. It was a normal enough play, but unfortunately, it didn’t end well for the former MVP. Harden came up hobbling and immediately left the game to head to the locker room.
A short time later, the Nets announced that Harden was out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury. Before the first half was even over, Harden had left the arena to go and get an MRI, which will determine the severity of the problem.
At this point, it’s still unclear how long Harden may be sidelined, but given his hamstring problems earlier in the season, it’s easy to be concerned. Harden missed over a month with a hamstring strain, and only returned a few games before the end of the regular season. If he’s going to miss any sort of significant time again, that’s obviously bad news for the Nets, both for the rest of this series and potentially moving forward.
2. Griffin steps up with throwback performance
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were great in this game, as they combined for 54 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. But by their elite standards, it was the type of typical performance that we’ve seen time and again, and which we don’t really need to go in-depth about.
Instead, let’s focus on Blake Griffin, who stepped up in a major way. Though he eventually fouled out late in the fourth, he finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He went 4-for-9 from downtown to punish the Bucks’ drop scheme in pick-and-rolls and made a couple of hustle plays that got the Brooklyn crowd on its feet.
When the Nets signed him earlier this season after his disastrous start with the Pistons, there were plenty of questions about how much the move would really matter come playoff time. Turns out, quite a bit — especially with Jeff Green already injured and James Harden going down in the first quarter.
Griffin still has his issues on the defensive end, but if he’s going to give the Nets this kind of all-around production, it’s pretty much a best-case scenario for them. He outplayed both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday in this game, and if that happens again moving forward, the Bucks have no chance.
3. Giannis and Lopez dominate inside, the rest of the Bucks struggle
Coming into this series, everyone assumed the Bucks were going to have a big advantage down low, and that was proven true immediately. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez absolutely feasted around the basket, shooting a combined 21-for-26 in the paint to lead the Bucks to a whopping 72 points in the paint.
All told, those two combined for 53 points on 24-for-35 from the field, and pretty much matched Durant and Irving. Unfortunately for the Bucks, almost no one else showed up on the offensive end. Everyone not named Antetokounmpo or Lopez shot 21-for-66 (31.8 percent) from the field, and the Bucks as a team went 6-for-30 from 3-point land. They were able to survive a rough shooting night in Game 1 against the Heat, but the Nets are another story.
In particular, it was a rough night for Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Those two did impact the game in other areas besides scoring, but against the Nets, you simply need your best players to put the ball in the basket. Instead, they only scored 30 points on 13 of 42 from the field. That’s just not good enough, especially given how weak the Bucks’ bench is now that Donte DiVincenzo is out for the playoffs.
James Harden Net Worth
- Name James Harden
- Net Worth Approximately $165 million
- Age 31 years (born 26 August 1989)
- Residence Houston, Texas
- Marital Status Single
- Source of Wealth Professional Football, Endorsements, Investments
- Salary Approximately $40 million per year.
- Endorsements Adidas, Beats ELectronic, BodyArmor, Stance Socks, State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance
- Endorsement Earnings Approximately $19 million
- Philanthropy 3 The Harden way, Houston food drive, Houston Hoops courts, Target
Born on 26th August 1989, James Edward Harden Jr. is an NBA player with the Houston Rockets. James Harden has been recognized as the best shooting guard in the NBA. He was picked by Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA draft. He was traded to the Houston Rockets before the start of the 2012-13 season. Harden was named the NBA MVP in 2018. He is also a two-time member of the United States national team and has won gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
How much is James Harden’s Net Worth in 2021?
Harden, like his fellow players, earns quite a fortune through his NBA career. His net worth has been estimated at $165 million. Reports from Forbes estimate that James Harden earns around $19 million through endorsements alone annually.
James Harden’s Salary
In 2017, James Harden signed the most expensive contract in NBA history. ‘The Beard’, as he is known, signed a four-year extension for $228 million, which will run through the 2022-23 season. According to reports, Harden will earn a salary of $41.2 million for the 2021 season.
James Harden’s Endorsements
Earns around $19 million through investments only.
James Harden Investments
His investment portfolio includes his shares in sports drink company BodyArmor, Art of Sport which a body and skin-care brand, custom-made for athletes, and sock company Stance.
In 2019, he also added to his portfolio when he purchased a $15 million stake in the Houston Dynamo of the MLA and the Houston Dash of the NWSL.
James Harden Other sources of Income
His other sources of income include his various endorsements and investments.
James Harden House and Car
The 13-year old mansion was formerly owned by NBA player Cuttino Mobley, who retired in 2008. Situated amid the Royal Oaks country club, the mansion covers 7,100 square feet and has four bedrooms, a game room, a home theatre, an infinity pool, and a spa. It was built in 2002 in Mediterranean style and gives a resort vibe.
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Memorial Modern
The 3.5-acre property in Rivercrest, called Memorial Modern, was built in a course of three years. The mansion that spans over 26,000 square feet is an ultra-modern space with a wine room, a cottage, prep kitchen, fitness room, and a fully stocked bar. The structure is crafted from commercial-grade steel with minimalist designs. Built by architectural firm Frankel Building Group, the property is a state-of-the-art, LEED-certified estate.
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