As the Los Angeles Clippers strive to maintain their strong standing in the NBA regular season, Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s arrival has provided a significant boost to the team. With Kawhi Leonard returning to top form and James Harden leading the charge toward the playoffs, the Clippers continue to navigate various challenges.
Their win against the Miami Heat on Wednesday marked their fourth victory in six games, highlighting both positive momentum and areas for improvement. While Bogdanovic has made an immediate impact, his strong performances are closely tied to Harden’s influence.
After the game, Bogdanovic spoke to the media about Harden’s role in shaping his performance with the Clippers. “Back-to-back. You see a veteran like James preparing for the game, landing at 2 a.m., probably falling asleep around 4 or 5, and still getting ready for today, it’s a huge motivation for me and everyone else,” Bogdanovic said.
He continued: “He leads by example, and we follow. He’s an amazing competitor, constantly pushing me to be better. He’s just trying to compete and win every single game.”
Bogdanovic’s remarks underscore Harden’s leadership on the team, reinforcing that, despite Leonard’s presence, Harden is emerging as the driving force behind the Clippers’ success.
Harden on Bogdanovic
Since the Clippers acquired Bogdanovic, James Harden has been vocal about the impact the veteran forward can have on the team. Following a standout performance in which he dropped 30 points against the Heat, the Clippers star sent a clear message about Bogdanovic’s role in the lineup.
“We needed it. I was on his ass. He needed to be aggressive. He’s so good, especially offensively, that if he’s reluctant or not shooting the basketball or not being aggressive, it hurts our team,” Harden said, emphasizing the importance of Bogdanovic regaining top form.
Harden’s comments reflect the growing chemistry in the Clippers’ locker room, as he continues to push his teammates, including Bogdanovic, who joined the roster just a few weeks ago, to elevate their game.
Harden praises Zubac’s development
Harden didn’t just highlight Bogdanovic’s contributions. He also had high praise for Ivica Zubac, who delivered a strong performance against the Heat with 26 points. The Clippers’ big man has been in excellent form, consistently putting up impressive numbers over the last six games.
“He puts the work in. He understands the game. The game has slowed down a lot for him, to where he understands who he is playing against and who he is guarding. He is effective on both ends of the ball. For guys like me, my job is to just make it easy for him offensively. He’s worked his butt off to be in this position,“ Harden remarked.
With both Bogdanovic and Zubac making key contributions, the Clippers are finding their rhythm as they continue to build momentum in the Western Conference.