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.

The Warriors made some interesting offseason additions but they haven’t fared as well as they’d expect, and with Stephen Curry playing at an MVP level before suffering a tailbone injury, they’re looking forward to addingmore firepower ahead of the trade deadline.

And, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Warriors have already set their eyes on Atlanta Hawks’ guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic, who recently signed a multi-year deal with them.

NBA Trade Rumors: The Warriors Want Bogdan Bogdanovic

According to multiple reports, the Warriors are trying to move Kelly Oubre Jr, and with Bogdanovic not getting enough minutes due to the Hawks’ crowded rotation, he’d welcome a move out of the team.

For that purpose, the Warriors could offer Brad Wannamaker, Kelly Oubre Jr, and a protected first-round pick to try and land the former Sacramento Kings guard, a deal that would benefit everybody involved.

Atlanta is reportedly looking to add some defense and Oubre Jr is a better fit in that regard than Bogdanovic. The Warriors need another sharpshooter and Bogdan would be a massive boost over Oubre Jr in that aspect of the game.

Bogdan Bogdanovic is currently splitting minutes with De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Danilo Gallinari, and – when healthy – Cam Reddish; and his production has taken a big blow for that situation.

And, while Klay Thompson’s presence could be a problem for him next season, Bogdanovic could still have a huge role for Steve Kerr as the first guy off the Warriors’ bench when the Splash Brothers are healthy again.