Draymond Doesn't See Harden As The Quintessential Shooting Guard

Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green weighs in on the debate over James Harden's position.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:40am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form that deconstruct the action on the court.Draymond Green's analysis of James Harden's position challenges traditional NBA positional boundaries.Houston Today

Former NBA guards Patrick Beverley and Dwyane Wade have been engaged in a back-and-forth debate over whether James Harden should be considered one of the greatest shooting guards. Draymond Green, the four-time Warriors champion, has now weighed in on the matter, arguing that Harden is more of a point guard than a shooting guard due to his elite playmaking abilities.

Why it matters

The debate over Harden's position highlights the evolving nature of the game, where traditional positional labels are becoming increasingly blurred. Green's perspective provides insight into how one of the league's most respected veterans views Harden's skill set and how it fits into the modern NBA landscape.

The details

Green stated that he struggles with the idea of Harden being considered a shooting guard, as he has averaged 10-11 assists per year, numbers typically associated with point guards rather than two-guards. Green pointed out that no other elite shooting guards in NBA history, such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Dwyane Wade, have put up those kinds of playmaking numbers.

  • The debate between Patrick Beverley and Dwyane Wade began recently.

The players

Draymond Green

A four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors and a respected veteran in the league, who has now weighed in on the debate over James Harden's position.

James Harden

A former NBA MVP and one of the most skilled guards in the modern era, whose position has been a topic of debate among NBA analysts and former players.

Patrick Beverley

A former NBA guard who has been engaged in a back-and-forth debate with Dwyane Wade over whether James Harden should be considered one of the greatest shooting guards.

Dwyane Wade

A former NBA guard and one of the greatest shooting guards in league history, who has been involved in the debate with Patrick Beverley over James Harden's position.

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What they’re saying

“Go find me a two guard that averaged 11 assists year after year, 10 assists, 11 assists, 10 assists. Go find me a shooting guard who puts up those type of numbers. I'll wait. Not Michael Jordan, not Kobe Bryant, not Dwayne Wade, not Reggie Miller, not Klay Thompson. Two guards don't average 11, 10, 11 assists.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors veteran

“James Harden could be a two guard. No question. He has the skill set to be one of the best two guards. Fortunately and unfortunately, he has the skill set of one of the best point guards we've ever seen. And ultimately, that one ends up taking the cake.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors veteran

The takeaway

Draymond Green's perspective on James Harden's position highlights the evolving nature of the game, where traditional positional labels are becoming increasingly blurred. Harden's elite playmaking abilities, which are more commonly associated with point guards, make it challenging to categorize him as a quintessential shooting guard, according to Green.