NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Had Words for James Harden During Knicks-Cavs

James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers entered Game 4 facing elimination against the New York Knicks after falling behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. No team in NBA history has recovered from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series, and Cleveland needed a strong response at home to extend its season.

Instead, the Knicks controlled the game from the start. They went on a 20-0 run and finished the opening quarter with a 12-point lead.

New York did not pump the breaks in the second quarter, with Jalen Brunson again leading the offense as Knicks fans inside Rocket Arena broke into MVP chants. Cleveland responded with a brief run late in the half, but still trailed 68-49 at halftime.

Harden scored 12 first-half points but attempted only one shot in the second quarter.

During ESPN's halftime coverage, the "Inside the NBA" crew called out the Cavaliers for their lack of effort in a must-win game. Former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal singled out Harden's performance and expressed his displeasure towards the 11-time All-Star.

"James Harden is doing what James usually does … disappear," O'Neal said.

Shaq on James Harden: "James is doing what James usually does, disappear."

— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) May 26, 2026

Harden has struggled throughout the series, averaging 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists entering Monday's game. He has particularly struggled to generate offense alongside Donovan Mitchell, recording 12 turnovers in three games.

Cleveland traded for Harden in February to ease the offensive pressure on Mitchell and give the roster another reliable postseason scorer. Instead, the Cavaliers have depended heavily on Mitchell almost throughout the playoffs.

Related: Knicks' Historic Win Against Cavaliers Came With Major Officiating Mistakes

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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 10:15 PM.