After joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in the deal that sent out Darius Garland, James Harden brought along a unique pregame routine: organizing walk-throughs in hotel ballrooms during road trips when no shootaround is scheduled.
Harden emphasized that the routine helps both physically and mentally prepare for games.
“It’s just preparation, detail, you get ready for the game,” Harden said, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
“Physically you get out and move around, and mentally you have to be prepared. It’s just preparation man, especially going into this run that we are about to go into.
“I think the focus is making sure we know who we’re playing against and individual guys and what they like to do with their tendencies.”
Head coach Kenny Atkinson initially questioned the idea but has since embraced it, along with Harden’s seamless transition into the team’s system.
“He’s completely adapted to our style of play, which is pretty, I would assume, rare,” Atkinson said.
Central Notes: Haliburton, Cunningham, Stewart, Harden https://t.co/Pg4IBJhEiX pic.twitter.com/i4HyruTc4A
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 9, 2026
