During an interview with Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports, Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden got honest about what a championship would mean to his NBA legacy.
Harden, one of the greatest players of all time, has yet to win a ring during his Hall of Fame career.
“Very important,” Harden said. “It’s been like that. I always want to give myself a chance to win. I know how very difficult that is. There’s only one team standing at the end of the year. So, I’ll continue to keep trying to do that.”
Harden has played in one NBA Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Miami Heat defeated the Thunder in the 2012 Finals in five games. Since then, Harden hasn’t gotten back to the Finals.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
A 10-time All-Star, Harden has requested trades from the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers traded The Beard to the Clippers on November 1. Los Angeles started the Harden era 0-5 but has turned things around quickly. The team is 17-10 with Harden in the lineup.
“He was taking six, seven shots a game,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said about Harden. “But now, I think with the rotation change [Russell Westbrook moving to the bench] – getting him out early and getting him back with the second unit – has allowed him to be more aggressive. When he’s attacking the basket, making those step-back 3s, running a lot of pick-and-rolls, we’re a dangerous team. And so, just getting him more comfortable was the biggest thing. He has been doing a great job ever since.”
Harden is averaging 17.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.0 assists with the Clippers while shooting 46.7% from the field, 42.8% from beyond the arc and 86.3% from the free-throw line. The 2017-18 MVP has seven double-doubles.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
The Clippers are 20-12 on the season. They are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. With Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook leading the way, the Clippers are legitimate title contenders.
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