James Harden has no intention of resting during the regular season, urging Mike D'Antoni to keep playing him.

"I'm a hooper," Harden said. "I just want to hoop. I'll rest when I'm done. I feel like my teammates and organization need me to go out there and do what I do. I get obviously paid for it, but it's something I love. I enjoy the grind. I enjoy how hard it is. I think that makes you tougher. That makes you who you are."

Harden is averaging 36.5 minutes per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA, and he has 56 double-doubles and 19 triple-doubles this season.

"I don't know how many examples you need there," D'Antoni said regarding the MVP award and Harden. "He gives you an example every night. If something's better out there, I've never seen it and I've been around. I'm old and I've been around and never seen anything better."

Harden was asked if D'Antoni will try to rest him down the stretch.

"Mike knows not to come at me with that," Harden said.

Harden has missed only one practice this season.