In the midst of the 'Slam N' Jam' podcast, brought to fans by 'The Athletic NBA Daily,' Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers mention the run James Harden has been on this season. In the grand scheme of things, it has been hard not to notice, as 'The Beard' is giving prime Houston Rockets vibes. Yet Speers brings up a mind-boggling fact: the LA Clippers' offense is nearly 20 points per 100 possessions better with Harden on the court.
Speers adds that his points per 100 possessions statistic is among the highest percentiles in the NBA. However, with 12 losses, Harden's 2025-26 campaign thus far has been a reason for Clippers fans to smile while watching the team perform amid a disastrous season.
That said, the Clippers are utterly wasting Harden's 17th year, which has been full of greatness. Though he is doing a fantastic job of justifying the claim to being a timeless superstar, credit is typically distributed according to wins, not just 30, 40, and 50-point showcases.
James Harden's third season in LA will be remembered by losses, not individual excellence
Over the course of the LA Clippers' November contests, James Harden did some things that only he is capable of doing, and that is what makes him a true generational talent. He was doubted at 36 due to the idea that father time would catch up to him, but the former MVP indirectly confirmed that he does not expect to slow down.
Before the Atlanta Hawks, Harden had only scored 30 points once this season, and that was against the Phoenix Suns. But once he saw a home battle versus the Trae Young-less Hawks, he cooked them for a 35-point, triple-double, then proceeded to overpower the Clippers' upcoming opponents.
In fact, Harden has scored 30 or more in four out of LA's last six. His best nights were a 41-point triple-double versus the Dallas Mavericks and a record-breaking afternoon on the East Coast, where he dropped 55 points in Charlotte.
Although both of these games were wins, the other two were when he hit the 30-point threshold, and even his memorable night against the Hawks, the Clippers lost.
This is difficult to comprehend, as Harden has been carrying while the Clippers have been losing. There is nothing more he can do, yet he continues to go above and beyond for a team that cannot figure out how to win.