NBA veteran James Harden makes bold statements on Los Angeles Clippers’ improvement

The Los Angeles Clippers are putting together an impressive season. Their consistency gives them a real chance at a deep playoff run. James Harden provides leadership. Kawhi Leonard adds elite two-way play. Together, they have made the Clippers competitive against top teams. After this clear improvement, reporters asked James Harden what changed from last season. His answer did not go unnoticed and sparked debate across the league.

“It’s just different. Different team. We got guys that know their role and know what they’re supposed to be doing consistently on a night-to-night basis. From the beginning of the season. It’s just a different team,” stated James Harden.

After failing to achieve their goals last season, the Sixers decided to trade veteran Paul George and Russell Westbrook. After this decision, many thought that the team would drop in performance as the roster they had was one of the best in the league. However, this season they have managed to maintain a consistency that has them in the play-in positions and dreaming of the playoffs.

For many, James Harden’s words could go to Paul George, because when he was asked about what made the difference he answered: “Personnel. You guys know. You know the players we had last year.“ However, this cannot be taken for granted because at no time did he mention it. What is certain is that since his departure the team has returned to good form. This does not mean that he was the problem, but the team found a balance without him.

James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers is defended by Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on February 20, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Amid the debate, James Harden talks about his relationship with a Clippers teammate

Amid the debate about whether James Harden was referring to Paul George, the Clippers veteran addressed another key topic. He was asked about his relationship with teammate Kawhi Leonard. This came up because the two have formed one of the best duos in the NBA. Harden did not hesitate. He gave a clear and direct response.

see also

Clippers’ James Harden teammate explains how his presence elevates team performance

“It’s real (his relationship with Kawhi Leonard). It’s just real…We don’t sugarcoat nothing. On the court if he sees something he’ll tell it to me. If I see something I’ll tell it to him. And we move on. We’re professionals, we’re grown…This is my second year, we’ve built a really good relationship. We hangout off the court. We know each other. Our communication is fluent. We say how we feel and we move on,” affirmed Harden.