This is the cover story of ESPN The Magazine's Oct. 30 NBA Preview issue. Subscribe today!
James Harden's phone was squawking again.
It had been yowling at him for weeks, ever since his implosion in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, when the most efficient offensive player in the NBA had wilted in the most critical game of his life. Most of the communication he'd received was sympathetic. Text messages like "u OK?" or "stay strong," even "praying for u."
Harden had dodged it all by simply not responding, but it was harder to ignore the criticism that had seemingly obliterated his season.