James Harden’s highly-anticipated move from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers has been one of the major talks in the NBA community. Fans are eagerly waiting for his on-court debut in the Clippers jersey, but there’s much speculation on when that will be.
Harden’s arrival at the Clippers’ Tuesday game against the Orlando Magic intensified the anticipations. However, with the trade details still pending finalization and mandatory medical tests required for the players involved, Harden’s participation in that game was ruled out.
The Clippers are set to face their city rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, on Wednesday. But it might be a bit early to expect Harden’s debut in such a high-stakes game with little preparation time. The Clippers would likely prefer to introduce Harden slowly into their lineup rather than starting him right away.
The most possible scenario for fans to watch Harden’s debut game as a Clipper could be next Monday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This follows a four-day break for the team, allowing plenty of time for Harden to familiarize himself with the Clippers’ gameplay and strategies.
James Harden arrives in Clippers locker room
The crowd at the Crypto.com Arena was filled with excitement as James Harden and P.J. Tucker, the latest additions to the LA Clippers, entered their new arena. The duo was greeted by the Clips the moment they got out of their SUV, signaling the start of a new chapter.
As they made their way to the locker room, team president Lawrence Frank and owner Steve Ballmer were there to welcome them. Things became interesting when Russell Westbrook, Harden’s former teammate from the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, shared a moment with him.
Yet, official comments about the trade from players and coaching staff, including Kawhi Leonard and coach Tyronn Lue, are pending until the deal is official, Westbrook’s positive words gave a clear indication of the team’s mood. When questioned about the Harden trade, Westbrook stated, “I mean, s—, why wouldn’t I be? Yeah, excuse my language, but definitely, definitely happy.”
Harden seemed cryptic on his end. Responding to a reporter’s question about his excitement level, he simply stated, “You don’t understand.” His mood was further highlighted as he sang along to “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” by The Gap Band, which was playing in the nearby trainer’s room.