Ex-ESPN star slammed over Trump and James Harden

A former ESPN character is dealing with backlash on-line after making controversial comments that linked Donald Trump and James Harden.

Max Kellerman is getting warmth after controversial remarks made on his Game Over podcast, the place he referenced each Trump and the NBA star while criticizing the Cleveland Cavaliers’ reliance on Harden following its Game 1 collapse in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Kellerman’s remarks shortly triggered widespread debate on-line, with followers and analysts cut up over his evaluation. “Making basketball political is so lame,” one wrote. “This is so disrespectful towards James Harden lol,” another fan added.

“This is exactly why sports and politics are both so exhausting lately.. everyone just wants to pick a side and argue. Keep your politics out of my sports feed. Seriously, it’s not that hard,” a 3rd fan said.“I don’t know if it’s possible to roll your eyes harder than everyone hearing this rolled their eyes,” another wrote.

Some customers however did agree with the remark. “Never did I think I’d see an accurate comparison between James Harden and Donald Trump,” one fan said.“Max Kellerman still has his fastball,” another added.

It was a pointy critique, however Harden’s Game 1 performance left ample room for scrutiny. He completed with 15 factors, dedicated six turnovers, and went just 1-for-8 from past the arc, struggling to seek out rhythm offensively. The larger issue got here on the defensive end, the place Harden was repeatedly focused late in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Brunson capitalized on the matchup, with Cleveland unable to comprise him in key possessions as he erupted for 15 factors in the final interval, repeatedly exploiting breakdowns in coverage to swing momentum decisively in New York’s favor.

Following the collapse, Knicks coach Mike Brown brazenly admitted to game-planning round Harden’s porous protection.

“There is no secret: We were attacking Harden,” Brown told reporters after the game. “Sometimes you’ve got to do what the game dictates, and they were trying to do the same thing with Jalen (Brunson), so we said, ‘OK, we feel like we can play that game.’ We try not to play that game much, but we feel like we have a guy that we can play that game with in Jalen.”

The Cavaliers don’t have any current plans to change their rotation or bench James Harden despite the scrutiny. “No, he’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I trust him – smart, great hands. Didn’t think about that.”