The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t had the start they wanted to the 2026-27 season. Two straight losses have dropped them to 5-6, and people are already asking questions.

One of the biggest concerns is about James Harden and his role on this team. There has been growing discussion about whether Harden could benefit from coming off the bench, and a former Los Angeles Lakers guard has weighed in.

Patrick Beverley’s Recent Comment Regarding James Harden

In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Patrick Beverley was asked whether he believes Harden has become the Cavaliers’ sixth man. He quickly dismissed the suggestion, calling it a ridiculous take.

“I think that’s ridiculous, right? Well, people have to understand, right, fans who haven’t played sports, right? When you have these older guys, and it takes a month or two just for your legs to kind of kick in, you know, it’s, I can, I still play. And I know my beginning of the season, my numbers aren’t going to be great. But I know once I get to December, January and the January, you know, my numbers are going to go up a little bit.”

“It’s a game of averages. Right. And I think the average is a way out. He’s starting off slow right now. Right. That’s normal for James. You know, he usually picks it up in the December and the January. Right. So I’m not too worried about that. Not at all,” Beverly said during the interview.

There is little doubt Harden has had a difficult offensive start to the season. He is currently averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting just 36.4% from the field.

His recent performances have done little to quiet the concerns. Harden scored 17 points against the Philadelphia 76ers before managing just 7 points against the New York Knicks. He then finished with 11 points against the Charlotte Hornets. That means Harden has failed to reach the 15-point mark in each of his last two outings.

However, Beverley does not seem convinced that a change in role is the answer. He believes Harden needs time to regain his rhythm rather than being pushed into a different position in the rotation.

Beverley’s comments also come amid a wider discussion about Harden’s ability to compete for an NBA championship at this stage of his career.

On a recent episode of the “Run It Back” show, former NBA center DeMarcus Cousins offered a different perspective. Cousins bluntly suggested that Harden’s path to winning a championship as a starter may no longer exist.

“James? Time’s not necessarily on his side right now. I don’t see him winning a championship as a starter, ever, in any situation. Maybe in a sixth-man role,” Cousins said.

For now, the Cavaliers will hope their veteran guard can rediscover his offensive touch and help the team get back on track. Whether Beverley’s prediction about Harden improving by December or January proves correct remains to be seen.