James Harden He is a lucky guy, although he has also earned his luck with the reputation of a star that he has built up over 15 years. Although he will fulfill his 35 springs in September and that is not a guarantee of absolute success – it has never been -, the ‘Beard’ has renewed with Los Angeles Clippers with a huge contract.
That he MVP of 2018 It was expected that he would renew with the Los Angeles team, but he did so for two years and 70 million with a player option for the second, according to ESPN. It costs him 35 per season, exactly what he earned last season. Perhaps a bit excessive for what he offered. Particularly in a playoff in which he failed again, largely responsible for the elimination of the Californian team in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks (4-2).
Harden adapted quickly to the Clippers system after arriving early in the season, thanks in large part to the sacrifice of his friend Russell Westbrookwho voluntarily came off the bench to make a place for ‘Barba’ in the starting quintet.
George, Westbrook and Harden had some good moments alongside Kawhi, but not in the playoffs
CAROLINE BREHMAN / EFE
The former Rockets player assumed the role of facilitator that the team asked of him. Tyronn Lue to make life easier for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and who had already played for the Sixers alongside Joel Embiid.
Harden averaged last year in the regular season 16.6 points, 5 rebounds and 8.5 assists in 34 minutes, his lowest score since his sophomore year in Oklahoma, although also since his time in the Thunder he had not taken such a low number of shots, only 11 per game, less than half of the 24 he used to throw per game in his MVP year.
Harden has been with four teams since 2021: Rockets, Nets, Sixers and Clippers
The Beard shot 43% from the field and a remarkable 38% from three with 7 attempts per game, but he failed the Clippers at the moment of truth, when he was asked to step up in the playoffs with the injury of Kawhi Leonard and adopt a more aggressive role facing the hoop.
However, and coupled with his typical lack of reliability in the postseason, James Harden confirmed that he is no longer a devastating scorer, or at least not in a sustained manner, staying at just 7 and 16 points in the last two games against the Doncic, Irving and company with 2/12 and 5/16 in field goals. But the Clippers, who see how they could lose Paul George in free agency, remain convinced that The ‘Beard’ is its base to achieve the desired ring that both parties lack.
With the continuity of Harden and Kawhi assured and the departure of Paul George confirmed, we will now have to see what happens with Russell Westbrook, whom the Clippers could transfer after the point guard activated his player option for one year and 4 million.
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2024-07-01 05:21:39
#renews #Clippers #big #contract
