Clippers’ James Harden — Can ‘fit in with anybody’ for title run،
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – James Harden said he sacrificed millions along with his style of play, which he said was “on a leash” during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harden said he tried to do what was necessary to win in Philadelphia, but the 76ers front office didn’t want him. Now with the Clippers, Harden hopes he can change some of the negative narratives surrounding him after rough outings from Brooklyn and Philadelphia and prove he’s still an elite star who can fit in with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook and winning a title. championship.
During his introductory press conference Thursday at the Clippers’ headquarters, Harden outlined what he believed went wrong in Philadelphia.
“It takes $26 million less to sign and improve the team,” Harden said. “Change my role, what media [felt] is the dominant ball, and my ball domination is really effective. But changing my role, trying to change the narrative, trying to sacrifice myself and do whatever it takes to win at the highest level. We don’t talk about it. That’s the other BS.
“So I left Brooklyn and I thought I’m going to retire as a Sixer, and the front office had other plans. They didn’t want me. … There’s a lot of narratives and people think that they have an opinion… But none of that is true.
Harden had his first practice as a Clipper on Thursday and remains on track to make his Clippers debut at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks on Monday. Clippers coach Ty Lue has a four-day break to use as a minicamp to integrate Harden and PJ Tucker into his offense before opening a three-game road trip in New York.
Harden, who has averaged 10 assists per game over the past three seasons, hopes he can unleash his style of play under Lue. He said he felt constrained while with the Sixers, that he was “on a short leash” and unable to play his best offensively, whether it was facilitating or scoring alongside Joel Embiid .
And Harden explained that “being on a leash” doesn’t necessarily apply to how many shots he was taking.
“I think about the game and I’m a creator on the court,” Harden said. “So if I have a voice where I can, ‘Hey, Coach, I see this. What do you think?’ Someone who trusts me, who believes in me, who understands me. I’m not a player in the system. I’m a system. You know what I mean?
“So someone who can engage with me, understand, move forward, understand and make adjustments on the fly throughout matches, that’s all that really matters to me. It’s not about scoring a basketball, to score 34 points. I’ve already done that.”
The Clippers see Harden as a ceiling booster, someone who can make life even easier for Leonard and George. Harden, Leonard, George and Westbrook talked about sacrifice, going beyond individual stats and trying to come together to help the Clippers win their first NBA title. Having all succeeded in such situations, the four stars will have to share the basketball.
However, one bond they already share is that they grew up in Southern California and want to do something special.
“I’m back home,” said Harden, who played at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California. “I just think about the comfort level of being with my family and then having really, really, really good players on this team. The four guys from California. It’s a unique story. So with all of that put together , it made sense.”
This is the third time Harden and Westbrook have teamed up after playing together in Oklahoma City and Houston.
“I’ve known Russ since the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles,” Harden said. “So our relationship goes way beyond basketball. He was one of the reasons why [of wanting to be traded to the Clippers]. He also feels like he has something to prove. We have a goal that we are trying to achieve. And what better way to do it together in Los Angeles. »
Harden sees similarities between the Clippers and his situation with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn before injuries derailed that team.
“I was in a similar situation in Brooklyn, where you have two guys who can score the basketball, create mismatches with defenses,” he said. “So I’m doing well in basketball, outside of basketball. Pick and roll, catch and shoot. We have really good coaches. We have really unselfish players.
“I think [I can] score the basketball. I’m also a very, very good basketball passer. So I can facilitate.”
Harden said he looks forward to proving a lot with the Clippers.
“Everything,” Harden said when asked what he had to prove. “I’m elite as an individual and then I can fit in with anyone and make a championship work.
“So I think we’re all on the same page when it comes to individual stats and all those things are beyond us. We all have a goal and I think everyone knows what that is.”
