Fans can’t ignore Jarrett Allen’s unreal numbers since the arrival of James Harden
The Cleveland Cavaliers made waves during the trading season when they traded Darius Garlandoriginal member of the team’s four, to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden. Harden played much better than Garland this season, and he was also healthier. But an underrated part of bringing in Harden as a more consistent member of the starting lineup was unlocking the best out of Jarrett Allen.
For nearly his entire career, Harden has made life much better for his pick-and-roll partners. Clint Capela played his best basketball next to Harden. So did Ivica Zubac. And now, Allen follows him. Since the Cavs brought in The Beard, Allen has submitted dominant averages of 20.4 points and 11.3 rebounds on 76.7 percent shooting from the field — numbers that, suffice it to say, are absolutely insane.
The Cavs have been playing exceptional basketball of late, and Allen’s improved play as a result of Harden’s arrival is a big reason why that has been the case. Cleveland did speed up its timeline by bringing in Harden, but that gambit appears to be a smart one given the early return.
Allen had another double-double, 19 points and 10 rebounds, in the Cavs’ 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
James Harden made life easy for the Cavs
If there’s one thing Harden has going for him, it’s that his record of regular season excellence is nearly unmatched. He is a regular season winning machine, and The caves hummed since they brought him by trade.
Harden lessens the burden on Donovan Mitchell to run the offense. It should make life easier for Allen and Evan Mobley in terms of looks. And it reduces the need for Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson to rely on more inconsistent players to try to partner Mitchell in the backcourt.
2026-02-25 05:30:00
