The LA Clippers have made a big move by acquiring James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden, the NBA superstar known for his scoring prowess, is joining the Clippers with one goal in mind – to win a championship.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, believes that Harden is ready to sacrifice his game to adapt to the talent around him.
This isn’t the first time Harden has shown his willingness to sacrifice for the team. During his stint with the Brooklyn Nets alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, he adjusted his game to fit in despite an injury-shortened season.
He also played alongside Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, where he demonstrated his ability to adapt and sacrifice for the sake of winning.
Harden’s desire to join the Clippers stems from his dissatisfaction with Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey.
The two had a falling out, with Harden going as far as calling Morey a “liar” during a promotional appearance in China. He wanted a fresh start, and the Clippers presented the perfect opportunity.
Upon his arrival at the Clippers, Harden seemed happy and excited to be joining his new teammates. He even joked around with former Rockets teammate Russell Westbrook and sang a classic song in the locker room.
Despite not playing in his first game with the Clippers, Harden was present on the bench, showing his support for the team.
Unfortunately, the Clippers lost their game against the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime. This defeat, however, doesn’t dampen the team’s belief in their new star.
Ty Lue, the Clippers’ coach, has faith in Harden’s abilities and is already planning to integrate him into the team during their upcoming mini-camp.
Lue and Frank are confident that their four stars – Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Westbrook – are all on the same page when it comes to winning the championship.
George revealed that he had spoken to Harden about teaming up, and all four players are committed to making it work.
Additionally, the fact that all four stars grew up in Southern California and always wanted to play for the Clippers gives them hope that they can build a successful team.
“What better story to be told than for four Southern Cal guys to do what’s never been done before and be champions?” George said.
Paul George:
“What better story to be told than four Southern California guys to do the never been done before and be champions?”
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— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 2, 2023
Making this new star-studded lineup work will require sacrifices from each player. They will need to lean on their individual strengths while also adjusting to fit the team’s needs.
Westbrook, who has previously played with Harden and new teammate Tucker in Houston, acknowledges that there may be a bumpy adjustment period. However, he is determined to make the new dynamic work.
With time, practice, and teamwork, the LA Clippers believe that they have the potential to become a championship-winning team.
“It’s going to be ups and downs,” Westbrook said. “Going to be good games, bad games. It’s not just going to come together and mesh and we’re going to be perfectly fine. That’s unrealistic expectations for everybody.
“It’s going to be a process. I don’t have the answer what that is.”
The addition of James Harden brings a new level of skill and talent to the squad.
As they continue to work together and find their rhythm, the Clippers are focused on one common goal – bringing their first NBA title home.
