Clippers fans will love James Harden take from former Laker

For long time LA Clippers fans, having James Harden on the team's roster probably still feels like some sort of distant dream. The man who was once a sworn enemy of the franchise now suits up for the Clippers on a nightly basis, giving his all for the team in red, white and blue.

Throughout the 2010s, Harden tormented LA while playing with the Houston Rockets. Fans have numerous memories of Harden making life difficult for the Clippers, with the biggest one likely being when he erased a 3-1 deficit in the 2015 playoffs and robbed LA of their first ever Western Conference Finals appearance. That year felt like the Lob City Clippers' best chance at winning a title.

Harden now represents the most veteran and most accomplished player currently suiting up for the Clippers in Kawhi Leonard's absence. Seeing him rock a jersey with "Clippers" across the front is still undeniably strange, but many fans in LA have come to appreciate his game more in the last year.

There is no question Harden has had a huge impact on the NBA over the course of his 16-year career, especially after his MVP-caliber seasons in the late 2010s. Many have hot takes about where James ranks in all-time discussions, and one former Laker in Trevor Ariza had some spicy words about Harden's influence on how basketball is played today.

Trevor Ariza: Harden "started something completely different"

In a conversation with former Clipper Paul Pierce on the All The Smoke podcast, Ariza and Pierce debated who changed the game more between James Harden and Stephen Curry. "The way James manipulate the game, it started something completely different," said Ariza. "He like, tweaked a whole bunch of different -," "Kicked the way in for Luka [Doncic]," interjected Pierce.

Trevor has a point with how players today try to mimic Harden's style when he was at his peak, and Pierce nails it when comparing how Doncic's development has mirrored Harden's game. Paul also chimed in with his belief that the style of the modern NBA is more a product of Harden's style of play than that of Curry's.

"I think a lot of the reason we play like this is James Harden," he said. "Everybody's shooting step-back threes, everybody's going into their bag and getting to their three. Like, that's James Harden. That's not Curry." Pierce's point here is debatable, but Ariza also points out that more players are learning how to get fouled and play their way to the free throw line like Harden is famously (or infamously) known for doing as well.

Regardless of who is correct or not, Clippers fans have to be thrilled to see their starting point guard earn this type of recognition, especially from a former Laker. If for no other reason than it reminds them of the kind of talent they have in their starting lineup. Even though Harden is significantly older than he was in his peak MVP days, having a guy who has reached the heights Harden has in his career means something in the grand scheme of things.