Max Kellerman apologizes for James Harden-Donald Trump comparison: ‘It was too severe’

James Harden has had his share of ups and downs in his first playoff run with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which isn’t anything out of the ordinary.

The former MVP’s playoff struggles have long been part of his story. While he’s had some explosive playoff performances, stringing together two, three or four of those great games has been a challenge. The Cavaliers, who now have a .500 record in the playoffs after back-to-back losses to the New York Knicks, are finding that out in real time.

Former ESPN host Max Kellerman was critical of the Cavaliers for bringing Harden aboard at all and believing he would be the final piece of a championship puzzle. Cleveland did get over the hump and reach the conference finals with Harden, but the team’s chances of a title are distant in the eyes of Kellerman.

After making an awkward comparison that raised a few eyebrows, Kellerman is now walking back his latest comments about Harden.

Here’s a look at what Kellerman said about the 36-year-old guard and why he’s now apologizing.

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What did Max Kellerman say about James Harden?

Kellerman went viral after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals when he compared Harden to U.S. president Donald Trump.

«Bringing in James Harden to win a championship is like electing Donald Trump to fix your country,» Kellerman said on his «Game Over» podcast, criticizing the Cavaliers’ acquisition of Harden as much as he was criticizing Harden himself.

The former MVP struggled with 15 points in a Game 1 loss, and the Knicks overcame a 22-point deficit in part because they started attacking him defensively, coach Mike Brown told reporters after the game.

Media criticism of Harden is nothing new, but the way Kellerman went about it certainly was. Kellerman has been critical of Trump at numerous points over the years, and he drew some backlash after taking aim at his supporters in 2020 when he called Trump voters «easy to propagandize» during a discussion about whether the SEC should play a football season in 2020.

Kellerman has made it clear he isn’t a fan of Trump, so the comparison between Trump and Harden, in his eyes, is a harsh one — harsh enough that he felt the need to apologize.

MORE: James Harden’s timeline of playoff disappointment

Why Max Kellerman apologized for James Harden-Donald Trump comment

Kellerman apologized on his podcast for comparing Harden to Trump, calling it «too severe» a comparison.

«I shouldn’t have said that because it’s not fair to James Harden. I did not mean to insult him publicly in a way that was going to go viral. It was too severe,» Kellerman said. «I don’t think it’s as bad as all that. I don’t think it’s as bad as electing Trump to fix your country, but that’s the idea. That’s the opposite of what you’d do if you’re trying to get a certain result.»

Max Kellerman apologizes for comparing James Harden to Donald Trump:
“I shouldn’t have said that because it’s not fair to James Harden. I did not mean to insult him publicly in a way that was going to go viral. It was too severe. I don’t think it’s as bad as all that. I don’t… https://t.co/cooq3gCIIP pic.twitter.com/RbNZJfldVE
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 22, 2026

While many might have seen Kellerman’s comparison more as awkward than outright insulting, Kellerman holds Trump in low enough regard that he seemingly sees the comparison as being unfair to Harden.

Kellerman has been critical of those who support Trump nearly as much as he has been critical of Trump, demeaning Trump’s supporters ahead of the 2020 election and blasting Tiger Woods for playing golf with Trump in 2022. Harden fans, fear not: Kellerman likely won’t be coming for you with the same vigor.

Max Kellerman apologizes for James Harden-Donald Trump comparison: ‘It was too severe’

What did Max Kellerman say about James Harden?

Why Max Kellerman apologized for James Harden-Donald Trump comment

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