James Harden was listed as questionable for the Brooklyn Nets matchup against the Portland Trailblazers on Tuesday night. The MVP candidate was unsure if he would play, but his passion for the game ended up making the decision an easy one.

Harden’s love for the game is evident in his play, as he dances in the lane for gorgeous eurostep layups and lulls defenders to sleep on the perimeter with flurries of crossovers before lunging into a step-back three.

James Harden’s stats have remained brilliant in his new uniform. Outside of his pure shot creation, Harden is also a master of playmaking, setting up teammates at a career-high rate of 11.3 assists during his 29 games in Brooklyn.

The superstar’s enjoyment of the game has been one of the stories of his trade away from Houston, as pictures of him grinning ear to ear and stories of him meshing with his new teammates make the rounds online.

Harden’s dissatisfaction with the Rockets organization as a whole led to him wanting to leave, as he seemed wholly unhappy with the team’s proceedings.

These days, a reinvigorated Harden has been the Nets savior, carrying the team through the brief absences of fellow stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. A discussion between Harden and Irving has established the former Rocket as the sole owner of the “point guard” mantle, lending its hand to his explosion in playmaking.

If Harden’s happiness is any indication of his play, then the Nets are in for a treat for the rest of the season. As his love for the game and happiness go, his awe-inspiring play surely follows.