The Los Angeles Clippers have long been denied a championship to call their own. Can James Harden be the hero who finally changes that?
James Harden: Chucker, Almost Champion, Clippers Hero?
The Hero
Harden has been so close to victory that he could almost taste it several times. As a young sixth man, he helped power the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 2012 Finals, where he ran into a buzzsaw known as the Heatles. As the leader of several high-powered Houston Rockets teams, he was one of the greatest offensive players ever. However, he had the misfortune of matching up over and over again with one of the greatest teams ever, the dynasty Golden State Warriors. A few years later, as a member of the dysfunctional superteam Brooklyn Nets, he ran into the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo at the height of his powers, and the Nets fell in seven games. A year later, this time a Philadelphia 76er, Harden did everything in his power to be a hero and beat the Boston Celtics, but the Jays managed to wrap it up in seven. Despite Harden’s continued excellence for over a decade, his 10 All-Star selections, his 7 All-NBA teams, and his MVP win, the championship still eludes him.
The Team
The Clippers have long been the NBA’s resident basement dwellers. Their longtime owner, Donald Sterling, was a cheapskate never willing to pay for a team that could bring glory to the team. Though this has changed since Sterling was forced out, one unfortunate fact remains. The Clippers are the oldest franchise in North American sports to never make it to their league’s final.
Since the team’s acquisition by tech billionaire Steve Ballmer, they have spent all of their money to try to change that, being in the top five in luxury tax spending for years and moving up the list steadily. They have brought on superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as former MVP and fashion enthusiast Russell Westbrook. Despite making their first conference finals in franchise history in 2021, the championship still eludes them. One piece is still missing. Can Harden be the hero they need?
The Trade
Amid a rumored under-the-table contract scheme gone wrong and a bizarre wine marketing trip to China, Harden wanted out of Philadelphia. He declared, “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” The 76ers began actively shopping him as a trade asset after that. However, not many suitors emerged due to his recent injuries, age, and expiring contract.
However, one team did emerge as the most prominent contender for Harden. The Clippers, long missing a primary playmaker to fully utilize their two superstar wings, swooped in and made the deal. A bevy of role players, including Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin Jr., and Marcus Morris, were sent to Philadelphia in exchange for Harden and a salary filler. The final missing piece of the puzzle had been acquired, and the hometown hero, Harden, was finally coming to LA.
The Disaster
The tenure of Harden in LA started off unceremoniously with 17 points in a 14-point loss to the New York Knicks. That was the second loss in what would eventually turn out to be a six-game losing streak. Afterwards, Harden declared to the press, “I am not a system player. I am the system.” The media was unflinchingly harsh. They claimed it was another failed superteam for Harden and yet another underperforming season for the Clippers. After falling to 3-7, a defiant Leonard promised the Clippers faithful that they would figure it out, that Harden could be the hero they need.
The Turnaround
However, something very strange began to happen in the Crypto.com Arena. The Clippers began to win. They ripped off a nine-game winning streak and won 22 of their next 28 games after their losing streak, catapulting themselves from 13th in the West to fourth and serious championship contenders.
Harden, who is beginning to look like their hero, has had no small part in that. Since his arrival, his 8.5 APG has helped unlock Leonard and George, both averaging near 24 PPG. That’s not including Harden’s own hyper-efficient 17.1 PPG on 58.6 eFG%. Perhaps his greatest contribution has been the emergence of Ivica Zubac, averaging a career-high in PPG since Harden’s arrival. The future looks incredibly bright for the once-hapless Clippers and the perpetually unlucky Harden. The only question is whether they can secure the ring that has eluded them, especially Harden, for so long.
