James Harden's time with the Clippers has not gone according to plan.
After spending much of the offseason elbowing his way out of Philadelphia and to Los Angeles however he could, Harden was finally traded to the Clippers a week into the 2023-24 NBA season.
But since landing in Los Angeles, Harden's fit with the Clippers has not been great. Los Angeles is 0–4 since he joined the team after a loss to the Grizzlies on Sunday.
Adding insult to injury in Sunday’s loss was Harden’s brutal airball late in the game that all but ended the Clippers’ shot at a comeback.
Harden had a great look, lined up in the corner, and hit absolutely nothing.
Harden with the air ball in the clutch 😬 pic.twitter.com/kjZLMVQl3O
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 12, 2023
Fans were quick to pile on Harden for the miss, and his general ineffectiveness since joining the Clippers.
The downfall of James Harden has been a treat. I can’t think of a player who has done more to damage their legacy more in the past decade. https://t.co/CMwOtOzaEV
— Lauri MarkkaWIN (@UtahJazz6Man) November 12, 2023
The system is malfunctioning again https://t.co/cRBPG3j3Hm
— Tupac (@TupacAG) November 12, 2023
This is even better theater than the Westbrook collapse. https://t.co/jI7BwZJdy9
— Brady (@freddyfromutah) November 12, 2023
0-4 with THE SYSTEM with their most recent loss against the worst team in the NBA. Have fun James ! 😆 https://t.co/FJHTAL7eTd
— Danny Ryan (@DannyRy02) November 12, 2023
Worst trade in NBA history?? https://t.co/8RQ2QoSYeV
— 𝐀𝟏𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 (@strugglingfan1) November 13, 2023
The Clippers ultimately lost to the Grizzlies 105–101. It was just Memphis’s second win of the season.
Harden finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes of action. He's averaged 32 minutes per game since arriving in Los Angeles, but just 14.3 points per game.
When Harden was introduced with the Clippers, he told media that in Philadelphia he had not been free to play his type of basketball.
"I’m not a system player," Harden said at the time. "I am a system.”
Through four games with the Clippers, the system looks like it needs an update.
