Nets: James Harden looks much skinnier in Brooklyn debut

Adam Weinrib

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots as Kevin Durant #7 runs past during warmups before the first half against the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center on January 16, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Did Nets star James Harden drop, like, 20 pounds in a week?

We’re not sure what actually changed between the last time James Harden took the court for the Rockets and his first time rocking Nets colors on Saturday night.

But what we do know is Harden looks like an entirely different person these days, almost enough to make you wonder if he was trying to force his way out of H-Town by rocking a body suit under his warmups towards the end of his tenure.

The first images of Harden in Brooklyn gear emerged ahead of his Nets debut against the Magic Saturday evening, and the comparison between these pics and his previous appearance was jarring.

Like, this is George Costanza Looking to Get Fired-level dissonance.

They’ve already got him on the @BeyondMeat diet pic.twitter.com/zr8NQQgmxO
— Talkin’ Nets (@TalkinNets) January 16, 2021

We can’t believe it’s real either, Nets fans.

Both the apparent weight loss and the existence of Harden in general and the beautiful throwback logos on the court.

Though Kyrie Irving still hasn’t made his way back to the court for the Nets, Harden will be paired with Kevin Durant on Saturday evening, and hopes to ride that reunion to the NBA Finals this time around.

After averaging over 30 points for each of the last three seasons, Harden’s numbers took a slight dip at the opening of this season, though there was plenty clouding his mind before he finally found an escape route from his previous team.

https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1350576594360946689?s=20

This is only the beginning for Nets fans, who couldn’t care less what Harden looks like…though even the biggest diehard has to be wondering what happened here.

Seriously, this looks like a different man. Was he puffing his stomach out artificially for the first few weeks of the season every time he was photographed? Did he just suddenly start…photographing poorly many years into his career?

Did he pay a complete rando to take his place while he hit up Houston’s finest establishments during the lame duck session of his previous contract? The world needs to know!

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard and Dodgers Way for 4 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast twice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for eight years. Previously, he was a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.