James Harden believes the Cleveland Cavaliers are building towards 'something special' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been phenomenal over the past few weeks. After a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season, the Cavaliers have become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Considering this was the expectation that people had for them before the season, they are finally living up to their potential. James Harden's arrival has played a role in that, as they were struggling with Darius Garland's injuries earlier this year.
Harden feels he is part of a special team with the Cavaliers
With Cleveland's core group, it is easy to get caught up in the hype. Donovan Mitchell is a legitimate superstar who can carry a team in the Playoffs. Evan Mobley is an elite big man, as evidenced by his Defensive Player of the Year award.
The last part of the core is Jarrett Allen, who is one of the most reliable centers in the league. Now that he is paired with Harden in the pick-and-roll, his offensive impact will be much better this time around.
MORE: Cavaliers should be Finals favorites post-James Harden trade: Why Cleveland is set to rule the East
Garland was not the biggest problem that Cleveland had, but his inconsistency and injuries were troubling. The Cavaliers cut their losses early on, as they wanted to win with Garland, but the reality is they needed to move on.
With Harden now on the roster, they have a special player who can take charge on offense. At the same time, he has faith in his team to make a difference.
"We’re working to build something special. Every game is an opportunity to get better. Tonight was a team effort, and it’s been like that since I got here. It’s one of the beauties of this team," Harden said after beating the Knicks.
The Cavaliers got a phenomenal win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. It was a well-rounded game, as they had six players in double figures. As they continue to improve, Harden will continue to believe in the team's potential in the postseason.
More NBA news:
- Donovan Mitchell doubles down on his love for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland
- Donovan Mitchell admits the OKC Thunder are overly physical, but teams have to adapt
- James Harden & Cavs playoff hype: Why ESPN insider says to "pump the brakes"
- Jarrett Allen is excited about the Cavaliers' performance in the second half of the season
- LeBron James is keeping an eye on the Cleveland Cavaliers