James Harden is getting his way. The point guard may leave the Philadelphia 76ers, heading to the Los Angeles Clippers
The fact that Harden wants to leave the Sixers has not been a secret for quite some time. Now his previous employer has agreed to the switch, “The Beard” will play for the Los Angeles Clippers in the future – and thus alongside well-known NBA stars like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. ESPN journalist Adrian Wojnarowski leaked the news to the public Tuesday morning German time. Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin leave the Clippers in the direction of Philadelphia (in the luggage according to US media several draft picks), with Harden come meanwhile the former Bamberg PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Pacific coast.
Already in June, the now 34-year-old Harden had announced his intentions to change, had fallen out with Sixers president Daryl Morey in public and called him a “liar”. In October, Harden described the relationship with Morey as irreparable, and then shortly before the start of the season, the point guard missed several days of practice.
So without a season appearance for the Sixers – Harden sat on the bench in civilian clothes over the weekend – it’s on to California for the ten-time All-Star. The Clippers are getting a strong scorer and distributor; Harden led the league in assists last season, was also a three-time NBA top scorer and 2018 MVP.
Back Home
The playmaker was born in Southern California, so the transfer now brings the “Wandervogel” back home. For shortly then four teams Harden played since 2021 – the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets, the Sixers and the Clippers.
“The Beard” will also get to see an old acquaintance in L.A., as Russell Westbrook, his former teammate with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is known to play in the backcourt there.
In the strong Western Conference, the Clippers, who started with two wins and one loss, are among the title contenders after the change.
