Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden will not undergo surgery on right thumb, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.
Harden has a nondisplaced fracture of his right thumb. He will play through the injury.
The Cavaliers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, February 25, in their first game without Harden. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley didn’t play either.
Harden has appeared in seven games with the Cavaliers, who acquired the future Hall of Famer from the Los Angeles Clippers on February 4.
Thus far, Cleveland is 6-1 with Harden in the lineup. The 2018 MVP is averaging 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game with the Cavaliers. He’s shooting 49.4% from the field, 48.8% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
Cleveland is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The team has looked like a championship contender with Harden in the fold alongside Mitchell, Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. The 11-time All-Star turns 37 in August.
Harden is making $39.4 million this season, with $13.3 million of his $42.3 million salary for next season guaranteed. Harden had sought more security in negotiations with the Clippers last offseason, but Los Angeles declined to offer him a longer-term deal because of his age and an organizational prioritization of long-term flexibility.
The Cavaliers are widely expected to sign Harden to a new deal this offseason. The Arizona State product holds career averages of 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. He’s still looking to win his first NBA championship.
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