Brooklyn Nets: James Harden’s triple-double prowess is already making history

Before James Harden landed with the Brooklyn Nets via trade, it appeared as if Jason Kidd’s franchise record for triple-doubles, which stands at 61, would never come close to being challenged. Harden, however, appears to have set his sights on that mark.

In 22 games with the Nets, Harden is averaging 25.2 points, pulling down 8.7 rebounds each night, and leading the league with an exceptional 11.3 assists per game. With Kevin Durant on the shelf for the last few weeks, Harden has been given the green light to take over on the offensive end.

In his short stint with the Nets, Harden has recorded seven triple-doubles, including a dominant performance during an overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs in which he didn’t turn the ball over once.

Harden’s seven triple-doubles are already second in Nets franchise history, as he recently passed Shawn Bradley and Kenny Anderson on the all-time list. While it took Anderson almost 10,000 minutes in a Nets uniform to total his five triple-doubles, Harden managed to pile up his seven in just 842 minutes.

James Harden might break some records for the Nets.

While Harden was a triple-double machine with the Rockets, he knew when he was traded to Brooklyn that he wasn’t going to be able to score 35 points a night like he did in Houston. He’s since reinvented himself as the team’s point guard, top rebounder, and primary perimeter defender.

The Nets are 5-2 when every member of their Big Three is in the lineup, but they’ve been playing some of their best ball of late without Durant, as Harden appears to have meshed perfectly with Kyrie Irving. Harden brings a physical dimension to the game that Irving lacks, making them a perfect offensive combination.

Kidd recorded a triple-double about every eight games with the Nets, and right now Harden is doing that every three games. If he keeps playing at this rate, Kidd’s record could be toast in the next couple of years.

Harden might not be scoring at the same unfathomable level that he did in Houston, but he’s showing that he is capable of adjusting his style of play in order to help the Nets win. And somehow his numbers aren’t being affected that much at all. As a result, don’t be surprised if he ends up in the MVP hunt.