Harden tells fans to expect healthy return: 'Scary hours' for opponents

After a rough run of injury luck derailed the Brooklyn Nets' championship aspirations last season, James Harden is putting the NBA on notice by vowing to stay on the court in 2021-22.

Asked what fans could expect this season, the 32-year-old told KPRC 2 Houston's Ari Alexander, "Healthy James Harden. Scary, scary hours."

Thanks to neck and hamstring injuries, Harden logged just 44 of 72 regular-season games last year - and only 36 after his early-season trade from the Houston Rockets. He was still very productive with the Nets, putting up 24.6 points, 10.9 assists, and 8.5 rebounds points per game during the regular season, but the injury bug followed him into the playoffs.

After appearing in each game of the Nets' first-round series win over the Boston Celtics, Harden exited Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series versus the Milwaukee Bucks after sustaining a hamstring injury in the opening minute of play.

After missing the next three contests, a visibly hobbled Harden returned in Game 5, but it was too little, too late - especially with star backcourt mate Kyrie Irving hurt from Game 5 onward; the Bucks held on to win the series in seven before continuing on to capture the championship.

With an apparently healthy star triumvirate of Harden, Irving, and Kevin Durant leading the charge, and a supporting cast featuring former All-Stars Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and roleplayers like Joe Harris, Patty Mills, and Bruce Brown, the Nets enter this coming season as one of the favorites to win the NBA championship.