The NBA is in its brief offseason, but Houston Rockets star James Harden still managed to emerge into the national spotlight on Sunday Night Football when Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr called an audible (i.e. changed plays at the line of scrimmage) by yelling Harden’s name.
Fittingly, the resulting play was an isolation run. Harden, of course, is known as perhaps the best isolation scorer in basketball history.
Unfortunately for Harden, the official Las Vegas team account engaged in some light-hearted trolling by pointing out that the Harden audible wasn’t a passing play. (Despite the narratives by some that Harden isn’t a willing passer, he typically ranks in the NBA’s top 10 in assists each year, and he led the league in that category during the 2016-17 season.)
Well, he didn't pass it… https://t.co/7yuQmamlZy
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 23, 2020
Nonetheless, Houston’s perennial MVP finalist is used to those jokes by now, and he may even appreciate the bonus exposure during the abbreviated offseason of 2020. As for hoops, the 2020-21 season will begin with the opening of NBA training camps next Tuesday, Dec. 1.
James harden audible was a halfback isolation run that’s cute
— breezledubz 🎭 (@breezledubz) November 23, 2020
The Raiders and Derek Carr going with the "James Harden" audible on SNF. pic.twitter.com/37fMYMoFac
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 23, 2020
