James Harden joined the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster multi-player trade on October 27, 2012. During his time with the Rockets, he achieved several milestones, including winning the MVP award in the 2017-18 NBA season. After playing seven seasons with the Rockets, Harden requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, aiming to form a superteam with former teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
He spent one season with the Nets and another with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, during the 2023 NBA offseason, the Rockets came close to signing Harden again. Ultimately, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka decided against reuniting with Harden.
Fans were eager to understand the reasons for Udoka’s decision, and in a recent interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Udoka offered a candid explanation for why he turned down the trade.
“There was great respect for Harden and his game, but it wasn’t the right fit. If the plan was to build a defensive juggernaut with a balanced offense — and it was — then adding a ball-dominant, all-time great who never has been known for defense wasn’t the way to go. ‘My main thing for us was what fits best with our young guys to continue to grow?’ ‘But also, out of respect for James, (I told him), You’re at the stage where you want to win, and we’re not there yet. And it wasn’t just James.’” Udoka said.
The player with the highest net rating during last night's games:
— Swish Stats (@SwishStatistics) December 5, 2024
James Harden – Net Rating: 43.50#NBA #James #Harden #Clippers #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/2twpWtDWfk
After the failed trade to the Rockets, Harden joined the Los Angeles Clippers on November 1, 2023. In the 2023-24 NBA season, Harden averaged 16.6 points, 8.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in 72 games.
Norman Powell Highlights James Harden’s Impact On Team
The Clippers faced a challenging situation during the 2024-25 NBA season. Star player Paul George entered free agency in the offseason and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard had yet to make his season debut due to an injury he sustained during the previous season’s playoffs.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Despite these challenges, the Clippers started the new NBA season strong, achieving a four-game winning streak, mainly due to James Harden’s exceptional performance. Additionally, his teammate Norman Powell recently spoke about how Harden motivated the team to succeed.
“During the summer he was working out with the young guys. We’re doing the deep test conditioning. Running up and down the floor, and he’s right along with them… I think that builds trust, that builds chemistry. Like if James is in here doing this then I have to as well.” Powell said in a recent episode of the Draymond Green Shhow.
Despite a strong start, the Clippers are in a difficult situation. They are now in the 9th spot in the Western Conference standings, with 14 wins and 12 losses.
Also Read: Clippers’ James Harden Makes Bold Hall Of Fame Claim About Russell Westbrook And Himself
