James Harden agrees with Kobe Bryant's comments on style of play

Kobe Bryant's comments about James Harden's style of play raised eyebrows Monday. Kobe Bryant's comments about James Harden's style of play raised eyebrows Monday. Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close James Harden agrees with Kobe Bryant's comments on style of play 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Kobe Bryant, James Harden's basketball role model when growing up in Los Angeles, said Monday that he did not believe the Rockets' current style could win a championship. At least one member of the Rockets agreed: James Harden.

"I'm not a fan of it in terms of winning championships," Bryant said in an interview with ESPN. "I don't think that style is ever going to win championships. But at the same time, you have to keep your team's head above water to win games. You have to do what you have to do to win games. And he's doing that."

Harden had no issue with Bryant saying that being so ball dominant will not win a championship. He also said the style is temporary.

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"I have to be ball dominant because we have injuries," Harden said after scoring 44 points on Monday while extending his streak of games scoring at least 30 to 27 games. "But when we get Chris (Paul) in a rhythm and Eric (Gordon) back and our full roster, we have multiple guys that can make plays, dominate the ball.

"For right now, he's probably right. This way won't get us where we want to go. We haven't had a full roster yet. I'm excited for that."

Harden had his 20th 40-point game of the season on Monday, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Rick Barry as the only players to have scored 40 points at least 20 times within their first 50 games of a season.

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