Interesting mostly non-basketball article on Harden from the Haute Time:
https://www.hautetime.com/nba-all-star-james-harden-haute-time-cover/103833/. Talks a lot about what Harden is doing off the basketball court (a lot). Also talks about his summer plan:
So are, namely, sacrifices in the way of fun, but that’s par for the course as he prepares to enter his 14th season in the NBA. He is no longer the young whippersnapper that he was in the first round, No. 3 pick (by the Oklahoma City Thunder) at the 2009 Draft, but he still loves basketball as much as he ever did, and maybe more, now that he has to work harder for it. “I’ve had the luxury of not having to deal with any serious injuries — with surgeries or whatnot — my entire career. But these last two years, I’ve been dealing with some hamstring issues, which are nothing to play with. So I’m taking this summer as an opportunity to do something for me, to make sure that I get back to the elite level that I know I can be at and that I will be at,” he vows. “So that’s priority No. 1. Basketball is the engine that drives everything — for us to be having this conversation, all the partners that I have, and the great things that I have going on outside of basketball — so I’ve got to make sure that’s on point.”
Which, especially in the summer after a grueling season, can be challenging. “I’ve got to be cautious of what I eat, because as you get older, your metabolism slows down. It sucks honestly, because I love to eat and I don’t want to be having to watch how many calories I intake. I don’t shred fat as fast as I used to, so I have to work extra hard, especially in the summertime. In the summertime, I just want to be free; I want to eat, sip wine, and do whatever I want to do. And it’s still [early summer], so I don’t want to be going crazy working out now, but I am going into year 14, so I’ve got to be cautious as far as hitting my peak — when I’m supposed to be in my stride — going into the season.”
The struggle is real James, the struggle is real. He echoes this sentiment, saying, “Being focused is boring, you know what I mean? Sometimes you want to have a little fun. Still, there is a goal, and to get there, you have to put the work in. For the most part, this summer is going to be about strictly focusing on basketball, and being in the best shape, the best condition, and making sure my body feels good, ultimately. But you also have to find a balance, and I think that’s what I’m doing. I think that’s what I’m great at.