Perhaps the deepest Western Conference in recent memory. The Clippers are squarely in the middle of the pack, which also includes the Denver Nuggets, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Houston Rockets, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Clippers have the star power to compete with anyone and the depth to last a lengthy season with Kawhi Leonard healthy and playing at this level and a wise veteran point guard like James Harden who knows how to make the most of his abilities.
Harden Compliments Kawhi
The Los Angeles Clippers’ dynamic combo is beginning to connect as they settle into their routine for the 2025–26 campaign. James Harden had nothing but love for his superstar teammate Kawhi Leonard after Sunday night’s 114-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. “Kawhi is a very, very generational talent,” Harden was quoted as saying following the game. In order for Kawhi to disembark and reach his destinations at any time. And it’s clear that he makes the shot more frequently. It’s just the way the game goes, and we’re a great team. Winning the game, no matter how it appears, is the ultimate objective.
The remarks were made as Leonard recovered from a difficult start to the season to demonstrate that he is fit and ready to play at a high level against a formidable Portland defense. It was a significant improvement over the season opener, when Leonard only scored 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting in a crushing defeat against Utah. Leonard finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals while shooting an effective 11-of-21 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
The Harden-Leonard Chemistry
While Leonard grabbed the headlines with his double-double, Harden played the perfect complement to Kawhi.
The veteran point guard finished with 20 points and 13 assists against the Trail Blazers, making sure everyone got involved, and through three games this season, Harden is averaging 21.7 points and 10.3 assists. But the real story isn’t just the numbers.
It’s how well he and Leonard are playing off one another on the court. The duo combined for 57 points in Friday’s rout of the Suns, with Harden going off for 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting while draining five three-pointers.
Against Portland, Harden took a backseat to Leonard’s scoring night, focusing more on distributing the ball and setting up his teammates. The Clippers sit at 2-1 after the win over Portland, bouncing back from a disappointing season-opening loss at Utah where they fell behind early and never recovered.