The Los Angeles Clippers are in a new era. The 2024/25 season features many different looks for LA including a brand new arena and a very different roster, including All-Star James Harden.
Maybe you have been following the Clippers since the beginning, back in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves. Maybe you fell in love with the team in the 2010s behind the star power of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
Whether this is your first year or fifty-fourth year following the team, this “Meet The Clippers” series is set to introduce you to the 2024/25 team from a whole new perspective.
For the next however many days, there will be an interaction with each member of the Clippers team to bring some familiarity to this new era.
The second Clipper I will cover is also a future Hall of Famer and a legendary presence in sports: James Harden.
JAMES HARDEN PRE-NBA
James Harden was born on August 26th, 1989 in Los Angeles, California. Harden would attend Artesia High School in Lakewood, California where he would be recruited by several schools as he would be considered the 19th overall prospect according to ESPN and the 17th overall prospect according to RSCI.
Harden would be pursued by Arizona, UCLA, Washington, and Washington State before he eventually chose Arizona State.
James would play two seasons at Arizona State where he would play in a total of 69 games during his time as a Sun Devil. Harden would be awarded the PAC-10 Player of the Year in the 2008/09 season along with being named a consensus All-American. The Sun Devils would reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Syracuse.
James Harden would average 19.0 points, 5.4 total rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in college.
NBA HISTORY
James Harden was drafted by the Oklahoma Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft. Harden was surrounded by young superstars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook which led the Thunder to their first Finals appearance as a franchise in 2012. That same year James Harden won his first award in the 6th Man of the Year.
After three short seasons, the Thunder traded Harden to the Houston Rockets after not being able to come to terms on a contract extension. James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, and Lazar Hayward were shipped to Houston for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two future first-round picks and one future second-round pick.
This trade was needed for Harden to ascend to stardom in the NBA. James Harden would spend 8 and a half years in Houston which would write his name in the record books. He would acquire 8 all-star appearances, 6 All-NBA First Team honors, 1 All-NBA Third Team honors, and 1 Most Valuable Player Award.
Harden was considered almost unstoppable during his time on the Rockets as he led the league in points per game for three years in a row from 2017 to 2019. His name was in the running for MVP every year he stayed healthy on the Rockets. However, the Rockets were never able to make the Finals with Harden and he soon found himself on the trade block.
After playing 8 games for the Rockets in the 2020/21 season Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets to join Kyrie Irving and former teammate Kevin Durant. A massive 4 team deal that involved Harden, Victor Oladipo, Caris LeVert, and several other players and future picks shook the NBA world as a new Big 3 was formed in Brooklyn.
Even with making an NBA All-Star game in the 2021/22 season, James Harden would never play a full season for the Nets. Brooklyn couldn’t seem to find the success they wanted and shipped Harden off to Philadelphia after 44 games. The Nets sent Harden and Paul Millsap to the 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks.
Struggling to find the elite version of himself, Harden would be on and off the court because of injuries during the 2022/23 season. Harden would still lead the league in assists per game that season despite only playing 58 games that season.
In the following off-season, James Harden was once again traded. The Los Angeles Clippers sent Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, and multiple picks for James Harden and P.J. Tucker.
Harden would play and start every game for the team in the 2023/24 season. Harden would once again find a superstar partner in Kawhi Leonard
JAMES HARDEN NOW
What can we expect from James Harden this season? A ton of usage from the star.
James Harden has looked incredible so far this season. Through seven games in the 2024/25 season, Harden has averaged 21.1 points, 8.7 total rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game. He has almost played every minute of the season as he has averaged 35.1 minutes per game.
James has been the main resource of offensive weaponry for LA. Harden has taken on the role of hero for the Clippers as he awaits the return of Kawhi Leonard.
Harden seems happy to be home in LA, and it seems he will not be leaving any time soon. Fans will rejoice once they finally get a healthy Harden and Leonard on the same court. In the meantime, make sure and watch for highlights from the “The Beard” himself.