James Harden is already making his presence felt in Cleveland - and the Cavaliers are making sure fans feel it too.
Since landing the former league MVP in a blockbuster trade with the Clippers, the Cavs are 2-0, and Harden has looked right at home in wine and gold. Now, he’s set for his first home game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards. And the team is celebrating in a way only Cleveland can: by handing out artificial beards to fans in honor of their newest star.
That’s right - the Cavs are going full “Fear the Beard” mode. The first home appearance of the 11-time All-Star is getting the full treatment, complete with a beard giveaway that’s already generating buzz online. The team announced the promo on social media, encouraging fans to show up early and “rock the beard right alongside” Harden.
The reaction? Pure gold.
“Impressive the Cavs can come up with 20,000 Harden beards on a stick in just 1 week 😂,” one fan posted. Another chimed in, “A beard giveaway is hilarious!! 😂😂” And plenty of others are clamoring to get their hands on one - or just have it shipped directly to their house.
But behind the fun and fanfare is a serious basketball story: Harden is already impacting the Cavs in a big way.
The trade - which sent Darius Garland and a future draft pick to Los Angeles - was a major swing for Cleveland, and so far, it’s paying off. Harden’s debut came on the road against the Kings last Saturday, and he wasted no time making an impression. The Cavs took that one 132-126, then followed it up with a gritty 119-117 win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Monday.
In those two games, Harden has averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds, shooting a sharp 48.3% from the field and an even more impressive 46.7% from three. That’s not just solid - that’s Harden looking like Harden again.
What’s been most striking is how seamlessly he’s meshed with the Cavs’ roster. His playmaking has opened up the floor, and his ability to create in isolation has added a new dimension to Cleveland’s offense. The early chemistry is noticeable - and encouraging.
There’s still a long way to go, but if this is the version of Harden Cleveland is getting, the Eastern Conference just got a lot more interesting.
And for fans in The Land, Wednesday night is shaping up to be more than just a game - it’s a party. A new era is underway, and it’s coming with buckets, beards, and a whole lot of buzz.