Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden recently expressed his appreciation for head coach Ty Lue, highlighting the freedom and support he feels under Lue’s leadership. Harden emphasized the open communication and the freedom to be himself on the court, stating, ‘Communication is unbelievable. [Lue] allows me to just be free, be who I am. And like I said previously, that’s not just scoring, with me reading defenses, seeing the different games, and putting Kawhi and PG in better positions, in the pick-and-roll with Zu or DT getting easy layups. It’s everything I thought it would be.’ This positive sentiment stands in stark contrast to Harden’s experience with ex-head coach Doc Rivers during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he felt restricted.

Following a trade from the 76ers to the Clippers on Nov. 1, Harden’s experience with the Clippers has been notably positive. The team has achieved a remarkable 17 wins in 20 games, positioning them just two games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for first place in the Western Conference. Despite the presence of historically ball-dominant players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, Harden has seamlessly integrated into the team, averaging 17.1 points and 8.5 assists per game. This successful integration has transformed the Clippers into a formidable NBA title contender.

The Clippers are now gearing up for a crucial game against the first-place Timberwolves on Sunday, marking a significant test for their resurgence in the league.