James Harden Makes Bold Cavaliers Claim After Knicks Sweep
James Harden is not ready to say the New York Knicks were the better team, even after the Cleveland Cavaliers were swept 4-0. The series itself was one-sided, with New York controlling the matchup and ending Cleveland's playoff run in brutal fashion.
But Harden believes the result does not fully reflect what the Cavaliers are capable of. In his view, Cleveland never really showed its best version, and despite the sweep, he still feels the Cavaliers are the better team on paper.
James Harden on if the Knicks are better than the Cavs:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 26, 2026
"It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot ... Genuinely, I do feel like we are the better team. Series-wise, we didn't show it."pic.twitter.com/qSam72NMqh
Speaking to the media after game 4, Harden said, "It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot ... Genuinely, I do feel like we are the better team. Series-wise, we didn't show it."
James Harden's Series Performance Brutally Assessed by Shaq
The Cleveland Cavaliers needed a big response against the New York Knicks, but instead their playoff run ended with a 4-0 sweep and even more questions around Harden's big-game impact. For a player brought in to give Cleveland another creator next to Donovan Mitchell, this was not the finish the Cavaliers were hoping for.
Game 4 summed up the frustration. Harden struggled to find his shot, could not get going from three, and had issues protecting the ball while the Knicks pulled away. Cleveland was already in a deep hole before the fourth quarter, and Harden never gave them the kind of push that could change the mood of the game.
That opened the door for Shaquille O'Neal to deliver a harsh line on Inside the NBA.
"James Harden is doing what James usually does - disappear," O'Neal said.
Fair or not, that criticism connects to a larger narrative that has followed Harden for much of his career. Mitchell did his part and tried to keep the Cavaliers afloat, but he needed help. Against a confident Knicks team, Cleveland did not get enough from its other stars.
For Harden, the Finals wait continues, and this series will only add more fuel to the playoff criticism around him.
Related: Timothee Chalamet Celebrates With Kylie Jenner as Knicks End 27-Year Finals Drought
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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 9:18 PM.