James Harden will “definitely” make his Los Angeles Clippers debut on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, according to sources. He is unsure how long it will take his new team to develop into the team he believes will help him win his first NBA championship.
Harden signed with the Clippers last week after finally receiving the trade he had been seeking from the Philadelphia 76ers since the summer. He spent the last few days watching Clippers film and working out with his new colleagues in 5-on-5 games. The 2018 NBA MVP, who scored 61 points for Houston on January 23, 2019, shares the opponent scoring record in the current Madison Square Garden with Kobe Bryant.
Harden is expected to take turns scoring and distributing for the Clippers, who also feature Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook. Coach Tyronn Lue stated that when the two are on the court together, Westbrook would primarily handle point guard duties while Harden will play off the ball.