James Harden Claims Cavs Are Still 'Better Team' After 4-0 Sweep

We really need to normalize being ashamed again because what Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden said after his team's Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks is so stunning that it really deserves wider condemnation.

From the standpoint of every Cavs fan, Knicks fan, NBA analyst and casual basketball viewer, the Cavaliers completely quit in Game 4 after being dominated at home in Game 3. They lost 130-93 in a game that was never close.

The Knicks dominated the series from start to finish, overcoming a massive deficit in Game 1 to win in overtime then winning by 16, 13 and finally 37 to sweep the series.

After the game, Harden mused that he still feels that the Cavaliers are a better team than the Knicks despite how utterly humiliated they were:

"It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot. They dominated us 4-0... but I don't know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we're the better team," Harden said.

Utter Embarrassment

NBA fans were stunned by the audacity of Harden to say such a thing after his team was so thoroughly dominated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

"If you lose a close game 7 (or even game 6), then you can argue that they got lucky breaks and the better team lost. When you get swept in four, and in such dominant fashion, then the better team did objectively win," one user on X replied.

"Cavs fans, serious question: how can you watch the pathetic lack of effort his man put forth on D and then the lack of accountability after his team got swept, and still take him back next season? The Harden experiment has to end here, right?" another mused.

"All this guy does is run his mouth. Like you got swept dude, own it and move on. You played yourself out of the hall of fame and won't be remembered for (expletive)," a third wrote.

Over the four game series, Harden averaged 37 minutes and 16 points per game. He never scored 20 points in a game during the series.

If the Cavaliers were as good as he believes they are, perhaps he would have been able to score just a few more points when the games were actually winnable.

The Knicks are now off to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:18 AM.