James Harden slammed by former teammate who advises Clippers to make tough decision with the guard

The Los Angeles Clippers entered the postseason with high expectations but failed to get past the first round against the Denver Nuggets. That Game 7 loss sparked criticism toward the team’s biggest stars—especially James Harden—and now a former teammate has shared a harsh take on the guard.

“Look, you keep Kawhi (Leonard), but you can’t let James continue to trick you. Hell, he tricked me this season,” said Kendrick Perkins on ESPN, breaking down what the Clippers should consider for next year. “When you have a guy like Kawhi Leonard, it’s the same standard as every other superstar around the NBA at his age. It’s about winning championships. It’s not just about getting to the postseason and getting knocked out in the first round.”

Perkins, who played alongside Harden with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2011 to 2012, analyzed the guard’s overall performance. “Great regular season. He did a great job, putting up numbers, one of the top leaders in assists, controlling the tempo,” acknowledged the former center.

“And then, all of a sudden, he folded like clean sheets in the postseason, something that we see him do all the time, especially in Game 7s,” Kendrick added, referring to Harden’s mere 7 points in the decisive matchup vs. Denver. “Can you rely on James Harden when it matters the most? History tells us no.”

James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 21, 2012.

What should the Clippers do with Harden?

After criticizing James Harden’s Game 7 performance against the Denver Nuggets, Kendrick Perkins addressed what the Clippers should do with the guard moving forward. “I’m not saying that they should not keep him,” the NBA analyst clarified. “I’m just saying he shouldn’t be looked at as the one in the franchise guys of their duo.”

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To back up his stance, Perkins pointed to the depth of talent in the Western Conference: “You still need to add to the team. Because here’s the thing: (Nikola) Jokic is still going to be in the Western Conference, Anthony Edwards is still going to be in the Western Conference, Dallas is going to be healthy the next season, Luka (Doncic) is still there, Steph (Curry) is still there, SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) is going to be there.”

Perkins’ take on Kawhi Leonard

Unlike his stance on James Harden, Perkins expressed more respect for Kawhi Leonard’s performances and drew a clear distinction between the two Clippers stars. “When you talk about James—not Kawhi, because the issue with Kawhi is never if he’s going to deliver, it’s always if he’s going to be available. James Harden, when it matters the most, we have seen, history has spoken, and said that he always folds.”

In that sense, the contrast between the two Clippers stars is undeniable. Harden has never won an NBA title and only reached the Finals once, early in his career with OKC. Leonard, on the other hand, played a key role in championship runs with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019, winning Finals MVP both times and proving his value on the game’s biggest stage.