James Harden is back in the mix for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former NBA MVP missed the last two games due to a thumb injury, but was cleared to return for Sunday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets.

The ring is everything in the NBA. The relentless pursuit of a world championship is why LeBron James first decided to join the Miami Heat, and why the Boston Celtics almost traded Jaylen Brown

James Harden made a successful return for the Cleveland Cavaliers even though he's still recovering from a broken thumb.

Harden suffered a fracture in his right thumb during the win over New York, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. He was evaluated by a hand specialist, and on Wednesday afternoon Charania reported that he will try to play through the injury and will not undergo surgery.

While much of the NBA world credits James Harden for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent surge, Draymond Green believes that narrative misses the bigger picture.