One-on-one skills

James Harden called a better player than Kobe Bryant by Sports Illustrated, NBA executives

James Harden's move to Houston has certainly opened up people's eyes to the wonders of The Beard.

Sports Illustrated has named Harden the NBA's third Greatest One-on-One Player, behind only karaoke master LeBron James and Chris Paul. And far ahead of one Kobe Bryant.

Bryant finishes last on the list of eight, which was compiled by SI with input from league executives and scouts. In other words, the people who should know best.

Morey referred to Harden as "a top five halfcourt player" at the introductory news conference.

The fact that the 34-year-old Bryant is not the same player he once was, despite his 29.2 points per game scoring average, is no great news. Kobe getting passed by was obvious by the All-Star break last season.

But the Harden love has plenty to do with the increased freedom he's enjoyed as a Houston Rocket.

No matter how highly league executives thought of him before, it's hard to imagine them having the guts to place Harden higher than Kobe — and Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook — if he was still coming off the bench in Oklahoma City.

Sports Illustrated calls Harden "deceptively quick" and "fearless when finishing at the rim." None of this comes as a surprise to Rockets general manager Daryl Morey of course. Morey referred to Harden as "a top five halfcourt player" at No. 13's introductory news conference. And he didn't back down on that view when I questioned him on it.

Even though his shooting percentage has dipped in his new life as a No. 1 option, Harden's efficiency remains high. He averages 25.9 points per game while taking 17.8 field goal attempts per game. That's fewer shots than Kobe (22.1 FGA per game), Carmelo Anthony (21.9 FGA) and even Harden's former teammate Westbrook (18.9) are chucking up.

And Harden plays for a team without a clear second option, one he could easily completely hog the ball with if he so desired. Harden will be named to his first All-Star team Thursday night and that stage will give him another chance to show off his one-on-one skills.

Sports Illustrated argues that James Harden is a better one-on-one player than Kobe Bryant.

Houston Rockets, Lakers, James Harden, January 2013

Houston Rockets Facebook

Sports Illustrated argues that James Harden is a better one-on-one player than Kobe Bryant.

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Get Rodeo ready

Virtual races and a new rollercoaster debut at RodeoHouston for 2025

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is less than two weeks away. Here are four new things added to the festivities this year that Houstonians won't want to miss.

AGVENTURE Park
Bees are an incredibly important part of the environment, and concerns about declining bee populations has led to an explosion in beekeeping as a hobby. In the past five years, America has added a million new bee colonies, mostly through people taking up beekeeping.

Agventure Park, presented by Oxy, is the Rodeo's new soil and bee exhibit. Both children and adults can interact with education stations to see the essential role of bees in agriculture. Visitors can plant sunflowers, live chat with experts, and learn everything they need to start their own hives at home.

Virtual Welding and Chuck Wagon
Virtual reality has come a long way in the last two decades. Even the Houston Museum of Natural Science rarely launches a new exhibit without some kind of VR attraction. The Rodeo is no different.

This year, visitors can get in the saddle for a virtual chuck wagon race, driving horses around a virtual dirt field in one of the Rodeo's most beloved competitions. Presented by Verizon, the event is completely free to try and a thrilling educational tool for understanding this part of the pioneer era.

If something more technical is your speed, there is also a VR welding experience that offers the experience of welding with none of the danger. Both exhibits are in Hall C of NRG Center.

Heidi Rollercoaster
A new ride at the carnival weds the German heritage of Texas with the thrill of a rollercoaster. Heidi is a high-speeding spinning coaster that rotates riders as they zip through over a thousand feet of track more than four stories in the air. It's an Octoberfest on wheel for those in the mood for a wild ride.

Nor is it the only new ride at the carnival. Overdrive is a new spinning ride that uses movie-level FX to heighten the experience. There is also a family-friendly Dragon coaster for the kids too small for the bigger rides.

Decadent Desserts
The Rodeo is one of the biggest food events of the Houston social calendar, offering chances to try new street cuisine and experimental vittles. This year, be sure to check out two new food stalls centered around desserts.

Strawberry cups have been a viral TikTok trend that's drawing people to wait hours in line in cities such as London and Dubai. These are strawberries drizzled in a variety of gourmet chocolates and served, obviously, in a cup. Candy Factory will bring the trend to the Rodeo Midway.

The other go-to sweet spot is Totally Baked Cookie Joint. Despite its name, its actually a refreshing ice cream stand where fresh scoops are topped with oatmeal cookie crumbles. Just another new experience for the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

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