Cavaliers newcomer Harden: Loyalty is 'overrated'

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden claims that there's no room for loyalty in sports.

"The whole quote-unquote loyalty thing, I think it's overrated," Harden said following Wednesday's win over the Washington Wizards, according to Cleveland 19 News' Leah Doherty.

Harden has been widely maligned in the past for demanding trades. The 36-year-old says it's a two-way street and that front offices are also responsible for the apparent lack of fidelity between players and teams.

"I think this is a business at the end of the day, and it's a lot of money involved and a lot of decisions that have to be made," Harden added. "If a player isn't producing or if you don't see him in your future - the front office, some of them have to do a job and want to keep their job. So, they feel like they got to do what's best to keep their job, and they trade players."

Harden, who joined the Cavs at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Clippers, is on his sixth NBA team and fourth since 2022. Harden and the Clippers worked toward finding a trade destination that would mutually benefit he and the team.

"If a guy isn't happy and he wants to be traded to somewhere else, then it's a problem," Harden said. "It's just so many different dynamics that go into it. This is a business at the end of the day. Not even just the NBA, but people that have normal jobs have those same problems. It's just not magnified."

Harden has made an immediate impact with the Cavs, who have won all three of their games with the 11-time All-Star in the lineup. Cleveland is second in offensive rating (126.7) since his debut.

Following the blockbuster move, Harden said the trade provided more of an "opportunity to win" than in Los Angeles. The acquisition has helped vault the Cavs into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, seven games back of the Detroit Pistons.

"For me, it's always about, like, I don't lose focus of trying to compete for a championship. And then financially, making sure that my family is taken care of, you know what I mean?" Harden said Wednesday. "Because I'm very smart, and I've sacrificed a lot - financially, which I don't get credit (for). That don't get talked about. But I'm fulfilled, and I'm happy with it."