James Harden Sends Clear Message on NBA Future After Cavaliers Loss

James Harden‘s 17th NBA season came to a close with a disappointing end on Monday night, suffering an Eastern Conference Finals sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks.

The Knicks absolutely dominated on the road, securing a 130-93 victory at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena. With this Game 4 victory, New York notched its 11th straight playoff win en route to the NBA Finals.

Harden put forth a disappointing effort in his final game of the 2025-26 NBA season, scoring just 12 points on 2/8 shooting from the field and 0/6 shooting from behind the 3-point arc to go along with his team-high five turnovers through 33 minutes of action.

Following yet another failed run at a championship, the Cavaliers franchise has quite a few question marks heading into the offseason.

When asked about his future with the team after Game 4, Harden said he “100%” wants to return to Cleveland and fully expects to be back with the franchise in 2026-27, according to NBA insider Marc J. Spears.

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Harden discussed his playoff performance and fit within the Cavaliers’ system postgame.

“I think I did pretty good ,” Harden said. “Defensively, been extremely solid. Offensively, getting guys shots and fitting into a system that was already in place.”

More Basketball:Shaquille O'Neal Delivers Brutal Assessment of James Harden

While the Cavaliers prepare for next season, the Knicks advance to face off against the winner of the Western Conference Finals series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 9:12 PM.