The 2024-2025 NBA season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. It’s packed with jaw-dropping comebacks and captivating storylines that keep fans glued to their screens. From rookies like Dalton Kentch lighting it up with 20 points in just the second game of their debut season, to the Los Angeles Clippers regaining their rhythm on the court, the league is alive with excitement. Adding to the buzz is a fiery debate involving Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade and Clippers’ star James Harden.

The discussion was sparked by a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast. While the video itself did not feature the controversial statement, its description revealed Jeff Teague’s bold opinion: “Jeff makes the case that James Harden is the third greatest NBA shooting guard of all time, ahead of Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade, and trailing only Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.”

Now donning a Los Angeles Clippers jersey, James Harden continues to remind fans why he’s one of the most skilled offensive players in NBA history. A standout moment this season came on November 29, when he delivered a dominant 43-point, 4-rebound performance against the Washington Wizards, leading his team to a commanding 121-96 victory. This season is being hailed as a bounce-back year for Harden, who has improved to an average of 22.3 points per game, a significant jump from his 16.6 PPG last season.

Notably, Harden recently surpassed Ray Allen to become the second-highest three-point scorer in NBA history, with an impressive 3,004 career threes. He now trails only Stephen Curry, further cementing his legacy as one of the league’s all-time greats.

By contrast, Wade at 35 was winding down his Hall of Fame-worthy career. In the 2016 season, he played for his hometown Chicago Bulls before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers the following year. By this stage, Wade’s performance had dipped slightly, with averages of 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game—a natural decline for a player in the twilight of their career.

The question of whether James Harden is better than Wade is as much about preference as it is about stats. However, this wasn’t the only time that Teague had reignited this debate.

Another time when Jeff Teague claimed Harden to be better

Harden and Wade played in different eras, making direct comparisons challenging. But Teague never backed off from giving his take. Just like this time, the former NBA champion had reignited the same narrative back in March that sparked widespread discussion among fans and analysts alike.

During his appearance on an episode of ‘the OGs’ Podcast, Teague had claimed Harden to be his in the list of top 3 shooting guards of all time. “Harden is the No. 3 shooting guard of all time. Me, just watching his game going against him, competing against him. James Harden when he was by himself in Houston, bro they was going to the Western Conference Finals every year. They were doing all this stuff and he was unbelievable, averaging averaging 35-8-8. He was unguardable! ain’t trying to disrespect D-Wade but before Bron [went] there, Miami was competing with us, the Hawks. Then Bron came and it’s a different stratosphere,” said Teague during the podcast.

But does Teague’s opinion hold weight? For his part, Teague averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 assists in 12 NBA campaigns and was an All-Star in 2015 He’s not a Hall of Fame player, but Teague’s firsthand experience as a starting point guard and playoff competitor does give him a different view. Nevertheless, his comments ensure the Harden-Wade debate will rage on. Do you think Jeff Teague’s opinion is correct? Let us know in the comments.