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Former NFL star slams James Harden’s flopping, says it is ‘tiring and old’
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- Former NFL star slams James Harden’s flopping, says it is ‘tiring and old’
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Louis Riddick called out James Harden after another foul-hunting moment left him frustrated during the NBA playoffs.
The criticism stood out because it came from a former NFL player and ESPN analyst who made clear he still loves watching basketball.
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That made the complaint sharper. Riddick was not attacking the sport, he was attacking a style of play he believes has become exhausting to watch.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
James Harden flopping slammed by Louis Riddick
As Louis Riddick wrote on X, he had no patience for Harden trying to sell contact and waiting for officials to reward it.
“James Harden flopping around on the ground like that after trying to con the refs into calling a foul is such an effing joke. It’s so bad,” Riddick tweeted.
He added, “As much as I love watching basketball, that s___ is so tiring and old.”
The post came during Cleveland ’s playoff matchup with Detroit , where Harden’s foul-drawing style again became a talking point.
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Harden has long been one of the NBA’s most effective players at creating contact and getting to the free-throw line.
But that skill has also made him one of the league’s most criticized stars when fans or analysts feel he is acting rather than playing through real contact.
For Riddick, the issue was not Harden’s production. It was the visual of a star player going to the floor while trying to force the officials into a call.
James Harden’s criticism grew despite the Cleveland Cavaliers ’ win
The bigger context is that Harden still played a major role in Cleveland’s 117-113 overtime win over the Pistons in Game 5.
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He scored 30 points, added 8 rebounds and 6 assists, and helped the Cavaliers take control of the series despite Detroit pushing the game deep into overtime.
That is what makes the debate around Harden so complicated. His foul-drawing can frustrate viewers, but it can also swing playoff possessions and produce real results. Against Detroit, Harden repeatedly got to the line and remained central to Cleveland’s late-game offense.
Still, Riddick’s reaction showed how little patience some viewers have left for the theatrics. Even when Harden is helping his team win, the flopping discussion follows him.
That has been part of his playoff reputation for years. When the whistle comes, he looks like a veteran manipulating the game. When it doesn’t, critics see the same act as exactly what Riddick called it: tiring and old.
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