James Harden still thinks Cavs were better than Knicks after sweep

The Cleveland Cavaliers certainly thought that they were a piece away from getting over the hump, hence their decision to trade away 26-year-old Darius Garland, the original member of the team’s core four, in exchange for 36-year-old star James Harden. But in the end, Harden’s arrival wasn’t enough, as the Cavs ended up getting themselves swept by the New York Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.

The way they bowed out was quite embarrassing. After making Rocket Arena a fortress for most of the 2026 NBA playoffs, they faltered in Game 4 at home to the tune of a 130-93 defeat. It became rather evident after the Cavs’ collapse in Game 1 that the Knicks simply had the better team in every possible way; New York, after all, won the series by a total margin of 77 points, for an average margin of victory of 19.3.

Nonetheless, Harden still believes that despite seeing the Cavs be on the receiving end of one blowout after another, that wasn’t indicative of the teams’ quality and that they still have the better squad.

“It was 4-0, but I don’t think we had a chance as far as our best shot. They dominated us 4-0, but I don’t know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we’re the better team,” Harden said in his postgame presser, via SNY on X (formerly Twitter).

James Harden was asked if the Knicks were better than the Cavaliers

"It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot. They dominated us 4-0. but I don't know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we're the better team" pic.twitter.com/8CAMItRK2H

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 26, 2026

It can be startling to hear one of the most prominent players of a team that lost in a sweep still declare their team to be the better one. Harden, the future Hall of Famer, has so much pride in himself and his work that he will never admit that they were so much worse than the Knicks throughout the ECF.

But the Cavs, simply put, did not look like they belonged on the same court on the Knicks in the final three games of the ECF. They have to go back to the drawing board and add a few more 3-and-D players and other athletic players as they head into their fifth year of trying to get over the hump.

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