On Saturday, June 5th, 2021 the Brooklyn Nets’ superstar veteran guard, James Harden, was forced to exit game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi – finals against the Milwaukee Bucks early due to an injury to his right hamstring. Harden immediately left the court and reportedly went to undergo an MRI in order to determine the severity of his hamstring injury.

Although the Brooklyn Nets went on to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks with a final score of 115 to 107 in game 1 on Saturday night, they are now very concerned with the availability of Harden for the remainder of this crucial series as well as for the rest of the 2021 NBA postseason if the Brooklyn Nets are able to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in this best of 7 affair that just began this weekend.

The play in which James ended up limping off of the court in to the Brooklyn Nets’ locker room seemed innocent enough. It was just a basic drive against the Milwaukee Bucks guard, Jrue Holiday, but after Harden lofted a pass to the opposite corner of the court James landed on his feet and instantaneously grasped his right hamstring in obvious discomfort.

The play resulted in the Brooklyn Nets losing the ball, and as the Milwaukee Bucks took control of the ball to start pushing it down to the opposite side of the court Harden never increased his pace faster than a walk. When the play stopped at the other end of the court James simply walked off the floor, and he headed straight into the locker room while holding his bum right hamstring.

Hopefully for both the Brooklyn Nets as well as James Harden, he will be able to continue playing in this extremely important series in order to help his team try to advance to the Eastern Conference finals of the National Basketball Association. If the Brooklyn Nets are able to defeat the tough ad big Milwaukee Bucks in this NBA playoffs second round series, they would face the winner of the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers. That series begins at noon Eastern Time on Sunday, June 6th, 2021 from the Wells Fargo Center located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Media Statements

 “You know we got a lot thrown at us this year, so we were, in a sense, well – trained for this event,” says the Brooklyn Nets’ head coach, Steve Nash, following Saturday night’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks in game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi – finals. “But you never want to see that for someone like James, who is such an important player and such an incredible player and cares so much. I’m heartbroken for him. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t know if he’s playing the next game, if he’s out. I have no idea. But I’m heartbroken for him that he had to miss tonight.”

 “I didn’t realize what had happened until he had started walking off the court but we supposed to run (a) play and he wasn’t in his spot and I looked at him, he was grimacing,” Kevin Durant relayed to media after the game. “It just sucks. It sucks. It sucks because I want him to be out there. I know how much he cares. I know how much he wants to be in this moment. It sucks. Wishing him a speedy recovery. Keep him involved as much as possible. It’s just a bad break.”

James Harden’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards

  • NBA Most Valuable Player Award (2018)
  • 9 Time NBA All – Star (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • 6 Time NBA All – NBA First Team (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
  • NBA All – NBA Third Team (2013)
  • NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2012)
  • 3 Time NBA Scoring Champion (2018, 2019, 2020)
  • NBA Assists Leader (2017)
  • NBA All – Rookie Second Team (2010)
  • Consensus First – Team All – American (2009)
  • Pac – 10 Player of the Year (2009)
  • 2 Time First – Team All – Pac – 10 (2008, 2009)
  • Number 13 Retired by the Arizona State Sun Devils
  • Second – Team Parade All – American (2007)
  • McDonald’s All – American (2007)

Eastern Conference NBA Standings (as of Sunday, June 6th, 2021)

  • Philadelphia 76ers 49 – 23            0 Games Behind
  • Brooklyn Nets 48 – 24            1 Games Behind
  • Milwaukee Bucks 46 – 26            3 Games Behind
  • New York Knicks 41 – 31            8 Games Behind
  • Atlanta Hawks 41 – 31            8 Games Behind
  • Miami Heat 40 – 32            9 Games Behind
  • Boston Celtics             36 – 36            13 Games Behind
  • Washington Wizards 34 – 38            15 Games Behind

Indiana Pacers                         34 – 38            15 Games Behind

Charlotte Hornets                   33 – 39            16 Games Behind

Chicago Bulls                         31 – 41            18 Games Behind

Toronto Raptors                      27 – 45            22 Games Behind

Cleveland Cavaliers                22 – 50            27 Games Behind

Orlando Magic                        21 – 51            28 Games Behind

Detroit Pistons                        20 – 52            29 Games Behind

 Western Conference NBA Standings (as of Sunday, June 6th, 2021)

  • Utah Jazz                         52 – 20            0 Games Behind
  • Phoenix Suns 51 – 21            1 Games Behind
  • Denver Nuggets             47 – 25            5 Games Behind
  • Los Angeles Clippers 47 – 25            5 Games Behind
  • Dallas Mavericks             42 – 30            10 Games Behind
  • Portland Trail Blazers 42 – 30            10 Games Behind
  • Los Angeles Lakers 42 – 30            10 Games Behind
  • Memphis Grizzlies 38 – 34            14 Games Behind

Golden State Warriors                        39 – 33            13 Games Behind

San Antonio Spurs                  33 – 39            19 Games Behind

New Orleans Pelicans             31 – 41            21 Games Behind

Sacramento Kings                   31 – 41            21 Games Behind

Minnesota Timberwolves       23 – 49            29 Games Behind

Oklahoma City Thunder         22 – 50            30 Games Behind

Houston Rockets                     17 – 55            35 Games Behind

Odds to Win the 2020 – 2021 NBA Championship

For those interested in sports betting!!! According to My Bookie Sportsbook these are the odds as of Sunday, June 6th, 2021 to win the 2020 – 2021 NBA championship outright. Currently the Brooklyn Nets have the overall highest odds to win the 2021 NBA Finals. The Milwaukee Bucks have the 3rd highest odds right now to win the 2020 – 2021 NBA championship this year.

Team                                                   Odds

Brooklyn Nets                                   +160

Utah Jazz                                            +330

Milwaukee Bucks                              +550

Los Angeles Clippers                         +650

Phoenix Suns                                      +850

Los Angeles Lakers                            +1000

Philadelphia 76ers                              +1100

Denver Nuggets                                  +2000

Atlanta Hawks                                    +3300

Dallas Mavericks                                +4000

Portland Blazers                                 +8000

Miami Heat                                         +30000

Boston Celtics                                     +35000