What did LA Clippers’ James Harden say about returning to Philladelphia to face 76ers?
After a rather unceremonious departure, James Harden will return to the city where he once played for the first time and it’s probably not going to be pretty.
While it’s somewhat comical to consider, James Harden has been here before and more than once. By here we mean, about to face a team that he forced his way out of in less than amicable circumstances.
The 3rd time won’t be a charm for James Harden
You may recall that James Harden was given a rather cold albeit muted reception back in 2021 after cutting ties with the Houston Rockets to join the Brooklyn Nets. While it was clear he was not welcome at the Toyota Center, the pandemic-era restrictions saved him from facing the onslaught of a full house. Then, there was February of last year, when once again after a rather bitter standoff with the Nets, Harden pushed for and secured a move to the Philadelphia 76ers. Upon his return to the Big Apple, the Nets’ faithful made it clear that they were no longer fans.
This of course brings us to lucky No. 3: Harden’s return to Philly as a member of the team that he once again forced a move to: The Los Angeles Clippers. Indeed, following a summer of drama that involved an outright feud with Sixers exec Daryl Morey and threats from the league itself, the 34-year-old got his wish, and off he went to LA. This is all to say, one can expect the welcome in Philadelphia to be particularly spicy when Harden steps onto the court on Wednesday night.
James Harden doesn’t care
Given the context that was reviewed above, one could forgive the man at the center of it all for having some reservations about his date with his former team. Interestingly, it appears that he’s actually focused on the bigger fish that the team has to fry. “We have bigger problems than me worrying about Philadelphia, you know what I mean?” Harden said Monday. While we can’t say for certain, we imagine Harden is referring to the fact that his team has a 10-12 record in its last 22 games. This is from a team that appeared to be a genuine title contender after a 26-5 run earlier this season.
Now, the Clippers find themselves in a battle with the New Orleans Pelicans to stay among the top four. Yet, it must be said that Harden’s performance has been one of the central reasons why the team’s results have declined. What’s worse is that it’s not just his offense, but his defense as well. Consider for a moment that the Clippers have conceded 120 points per 100 possessions when Harden is on the court. When he’s not, that number has decreased by almost 10 points.
Of course, this is not to say that James Harden is the reason why the Clippers aren’t winning, however, if the team is to return to doing just that, an improvement from Harden will be required. Where context is concerned, the Pelicans lost to the Thunder on Tuesday, meaning a win for the Clips would definitely give them some wiggle room. As for Harden, whether you hate him or love him, it’s clear that he can still produce with the best of them. The question now is whether he can do so consistently, and more importantly, starting with a game against his former team.