Player reactions following a blockbuster trade are always an interesting read. With the LA Clippers making a massive deal early on in the deadline week festivites, several athletes offered words of encouragement, and some offered deeper insight.
As James Harden is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, NFL stars Maxx Crosby and Shedeur Sanders showed their support and ensured his tenure began in a heartwarming manner.
Never Thought I Would Be Rooting For The Cavs Ever… LFG !!!!! @JHarden13 Ring Time! https://t.co/n18mB0dtUO
— Maxx Crosby (@CrosbyMaxx) February 4, 2026
More importantly, Tyrese Maxey, a former teammate of Harden’s and now a multi-time NBA All-Star, gave a deeper response that aligns with the Clipper mentality of positivity.
After playing the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 3, Maxey expressed optimism for Harden several times. He complimented his career, playstyle, and dynamic, essentially underscoring that Cleveland will benefit deeply from having him on the court.
Clipper Nation should feel the same way. Harden loved to be in LA’s locker room, and when he inevitably succeeds with the Cavaliers, his former team is one he can count on to be cheering for him on the West Coast.
There is nothing but love for James Harden on the LA Clippers’ side
Often, when superstars are traded or walk away willingly, a sour note is left. This generates bitterness among the fanbase and has a lasting impact on future matchups, particularly when the two sides meet again.
However, fans of the LA Clippers do not have this mindset towards James Harden, who was just shipped to the Eastern Conference. He was one of the most highly regarded players the franchise has ever had, and the energy he brought was different from every Clipper in history.
From every perspective, it was evident that Harden had a unique connection with everyone. Good vibes always seemed to be around him; he had distinct handshakes with a handful of players, and he did his best to give back to the community.
Harden was simply an excellent talent on the floor and the epitome of a phenomenal leader through reasons A-to-Z, and if none of these were enough, his teammates, like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Ivica Zubac, to name a few, would rock his iconic shoe line.
Harden uplifted the culture in LA, as he did with the Philadelphia 76ers, in a way Tyrese Maxey remembers vividly. Thus, it was clear the type of reaction Maxey would have to his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, given their close friendship, yet it is precisely how the entire Clippers fanbase feels.