Harden to make Clippers debut Monday vs. Knicks
James Harden said he'll "definitely" make his Los Angeles Clippers debut Monday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.
Harden is expected to start alongside Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Ivica Zubac, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The Clippers landed Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrusev from the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in a blockbuster deal for a package including Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Kenyon Martin Jr., and draft picks.
A 10-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA guard, Harden has averaged 24.7 points, seven assists, and 5.6 rebounds over 1,000 career games.
"I'm very elite as an individual and then I can fit in with anybody and make a championship run work," Harden said during his introductory presser in L.A. on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. "I think all of us are on the same page in the sense of the individual stats and all those things are past us, and we all got one goal, and I think everybody knows what that is."
Harden's relationship with 76ers president Daryl Morey soured over the past few months, leading to him demanding a trade and sitting out the beginning of the campaign. Monday's contest will mark his 2023-24 season debut.