One quarter is all Brook Lopez needed to do his best James Harden impression

In the first quarter of preseason action versus the Denver Nuggets, the LA Clippers’ backup center, Brook Lopez, went on a heat check in the first quarter. He was drilling three-pointers unconsciously, and with just over one minute remaining, Lopez did a step-back from long range and hit nothing but net.

This is one of the scariest qualities in his bag, especially at seven feet, as it is not normal at his size to be showcasing moves most commonly seen from point guards. Yet, Lopez proved he can do it, which is another reason why this Clippers team has more potential than every roster in franchise history.

Moreover, this move was James Harden-like; the guard who did not invent the step-back, but transformed it into a move every kid and young athlete wanted to add to their game. Thus, if Lopez masters certain aspects of his game from the former MVP, Tyronn Lue could experiment later in the year by starting him with Ivica Zubac.

Brook Lopez could have one of his best seasons next to James Harden

From their first official tip-off together against the Utah Jazz, Brook Lopez will love playing with James Harden. He was never given a dominant playmaker in Milwaukee, so with one on the LA Clippers, fans of the LA Clippers may see his averages in points rise while everyone in the media is worried about the team’s age.

This increase will come strictly from pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops, as Lopez is excellent around the rim and from beyond the arc. He truly is one of the better three-level scoring big men in the league, which is rare.

However, Harden could do more for Lopez off the court to help augment his game. The veteran center is 37, but he could still improve his handle to one of the league’s best for a center, and consistently drill step-backs from a distance, proving that it is a move he has mastered.

These added details could prompt Tyronn Lue to add his name to the starting lineup, just to see how things go. For the most part, Lue will see no issues, but the only concern that could arise is in the half-court defense, as there will be a lot of size, equating to less mobility, in LA’s front-court.

That said, Lopez excelled in the first quarter of the second preseason game with multiple possessions that impressed fans, boosting the fans’ excitement for his first season as a Clipper.