Los Angeles Clippers superstar James Harden appeared to try to block his own teammate Kawhi Leonard’s shot during the third quarter of a game between his Clippers and the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night.
Harden, right after passing the ball to Leonard in the corner, sprinted over to him and leapt up, arms extended, and put his hand in Leonard’s face as if he was defending his own teammate.
Leonard missed the shot, which would have been a wide open look if not for Harden, and it clanked off the side of the rim.
Yo James Harden really passed to Kawhi Leonard for 3 and then closed out on his shot??? pic.twitter.com/mp45EpOgLz
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 21, 2024
Harden was apparently just having fun in a game where his team was leading by 21. When asked after the game why he would go out of his way to defend his own teammate he said he was just playing around. (RELATED: Grown Man Draymond Green Whines About LeBron Not Coming On His Podcast)
“Gotta bring some excitement to this team, you know what I mean? I think these last few weeks have been a fog for us and I think every team goes through it. So I think it’s just me just trying to create a great energy, create a great vibe for this team,” Harden told reporters after the game. “It would have been better if he made the shot, but… give ’em something to laugh about, you know what I mean?”
James Harden said he was trying to lighten the mood and get the Clippers out of the fog they’ve been in lately when asked about how he closed out on a Kawhi 3-point attempt when they were up by 21. pic.twitter.com/Y9XOBeXRos
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) March 21, 2024
To be honest, I was initially pissed when I saw this clip. James Harden was once notorious for slacking on defense. But the 14-time All-Star is enjoying his best defensive season of his life with a career-best 115.7 defensive rating, according to Statmuse. While, as a Clippers fan, I’m happy to see him pick up the effort, I would have assumed it went without saying that the effort should apply to members of the opposing team exclusively.
After hearing his rationale, however, I’ve come around. The Clippers have been struggling since the All-Star Break. If Harden is getting creative trying to breathe some life into the Western Conference’s four seed, I’m here for it.