James Harden has only been with the Los Angeles Clippers for more than 2 months. However, this time is enough for him to feel happy and share interesting thoughts about the future.
Immediately after the 128-117 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder this morning (January 17), Harden said he felt satisfied and happy at the LA Clippers.
Asked more about his ability to stay long-term with the team that has won 23 matches in the last 30 appearances, James reminded a little about his old team before answering.
“Everything is going very well. But actually I had similar thoughts in the previous team I played for. That’s why I sacrificed a lot for them,” James Harden said, referring to his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“But here, I feel at home. I’m happy and everything is going well. We have the ability to compete and aim for the highest position.
I hope this lineup with this frame will stay the same for a few years, something I haven’t had the chance to experience in a long time. Continuity in the squad will help a lot.”
Among the trio of stars Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Paul George, Harden is the player who is not allowed to extend his contract this season.
The reason is that he has just opted-in for the final year (Player Option) in the summer of 2023, from which he can only sign a new contract after the 2023-24 season ends.
Kawhi Leonard just extended his contract a week ago with a total value of 153 million USD over 3 years, a little less than the maximum (4 years, 223 million USD) he could receive.
The other name, Paul George, can also sign a 4-year extension worth $223 million. However, this player is still in the negotiation stage with the club.
Besides the three stars mentioned above, Russell Westbrook is another name with great influence. He is currently in the first year of a two-year contract worth just $7.8 million.
All four players want to win a championship together with the LA Clippers, three of whom were born and raised in Los Angeles (except Harden).
The James Harden era at the LA Clippers did not start well at all with 6 consecutive losses, including 5 games where Harden played directly.
But right after that, the “beard god” and his new teammates had 23 wins in 30 matches (76% win rate). If only from the beginning of December until now, the LA Clippers’ 18-4 record is good. best in the entire NBA.
Regarding Harden personally, he is averaging 16.9 points with 8.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds in his new shirt, his index set is not as explosive as in previous years.
However, nothing is more important than Harden feeling happy and cheerful at the LA Clippers. Not to mention the team’s win-loss record has improved significantly since his arrival.
