NBA 'sore loser' slammed for 'classless' act
Fans have labelled NBA star James Harden a “sore loser” after the Houston star’s petty reaction to a gesture from Golden State’s Draymond Green.
Harden and the Rockets capitulated in game seven of their Western Conference Finals showdown with the Warriors as their NBA season ended in despair.
But it was a moment in the third quarter of the match – when the Rockets were six points up – that has left fans the most disappointed by the antics of the Houston superstar.
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Harden went for a hard drive into a congested part of the Warriors’ key but he was bundled over as Green tried to stop the Rockets man from scoring.
Seeing his rival sprawled on the canvas, Green grabbed Harden by the arms in an attempt to help him up from the floor.
However, when Harden refused the offer and Green withdrew his hands, the Houston man shot him an incensed look – sparking outrage from supporters on social media.
Harden is his typical classless self. A sore loser. He didnt have the courage or at the very least the good manners to congratulate the winners.
What kind of example is he on the national stage?— lyn robinson (@lynrobi88561182) May 30, 2018
Please. He’s acting like a child. This is our “MVP”. Of what
grade school behavior? Then you wonder why Dray is never nice!!— TOMMYLEE69 (@Tommyland1969) May 29, 2018
I believe every player on the Rockets team remained on the floor to congratulate the Warriors showing class except one Rocket; bingo Harden went straight to the locker room to sulk. Come on James, grow up.
— RACERSTU (@HockmanStuart) May 29, 2018
Whatever happened to sportmanship? My opinion Harden needs to remember this.
— Laurajean Garst (@LolaaG) May 29, 2018
The Rockets’ game seven horror show was highlighted by a record 27 straight misses by the Rockets during an epic cold streak from 3-point range, that ultimately gifted the series to Golden State.
Kevin Durant scored 34 points, Stephen Curry sparked another third-quarter turnaround, and the Warriors earned a fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals by beating the Rockets 101-92.
The defending champions trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half.
Curry, who finished with 27 points, scored 14 of Golden State’s 33 points in the third quarter as Houston’s shooting didn’t just go cold, it froze. The Rockets missed all 14 3-point attempts in that quarter as part of a 1-for-21 second half from long range.
The Warriors will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the finals on Thursday night (Friday AEST) in the fourth straight matchup between the teams.
Harden had 32 points as the top-seeded Rockets’ bid to return to the finals for the first time since 1995 fell short without Chris Paul, who was nursing a hamstring injury.
“We just didn’t have that extra juice that we needed,” Harden said.
With AAP