Harden, NBA Superstars with 5-Letter First Names That Start with 'K', and the 2nd Round

For three consecutive odd-numbered years (2017, 2019, 2021), a superstar with a five-letter first name that starts with the letter 'K' was knocked out of a second-round NBA playoff series involving superstar James Harden. All three times, Harden's team lost the series on their home court.

In 2017, then San Antonio Spurs guard Kawhi Leonard injured his ankle in Game 5 against Harden's Rockets and did not play the remainder of the series. The Spurs won that game despite losing Kawhi and then throttled the Rockets 114-75 in Houston in Game 6 to win the series.

In 2019, then Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant injured his calf in Game 5 against Harden's Rockets and was sidelined for the rest of the series. The Warriors won that game and then beat the Rockets in Houston in Game 6 behind 33 second-half points by Stephen Curry.

In 2021, Harden's Brooklyn Nets teammate Kyrie Irving injured his ankle in Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks and never played again in the series. The Bucks won that game to tie the series 2-2. The Bucks lost Game 5 but won Game 6 in Milwaukee and Game 7 in Brooklyn to win the series. I believe that the Nets lost the series because of Kyrie's injury and a hamstring injury that Harden suffered himself. Harden was playing on one leg for the last three games of the series.

In 2023, the streak ended. Like the previous three odd-numbered years, Harden's team (the Philadelphia 76ers) lost in the second round. The 76ers blew a 3-2 series lead to the Boston Celtics and lost the series in seven games.

Harden, NBA Superstars with 5-Letter First Names That Start with 'K', and the 2nd Round

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