As the 2024-25 NBA season kicks into gear, a surprising storyline is emerging in Los Angeles. James Harden, the 35-year-old former MVP who many had written off, is putting up eye-popping numbers for the Clippers. Through the first few weeks of the season, Harden is flirting with averaging a triple-double, posting 21.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game, along with 2.6 threes, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks. The question on everyone’s mind: Can he keep this up?
A Perfect Storm for Harden’s Resurgence
The Clippers’ unique roster construction this season seems tailor-made for Harden to thrive. With superstar Kawhi Leonard sidelined indefinitely due to ongoing knee issues, the team has surrounded Harden with role players who are all simultaneously producing career-best numbers. Norman Powell, in his 10th season, is averaging nearly 25 points per game despite never hitting the 20 point mark for a full season previously. Ivica Zubac, the team’s 9th year center, is putting up 17.4 points and 13 rebounds nightly, demolishing his prior bests.
According to a team insider, this Clippers squad is essentially built to maximize Harden’s strengths at this stage of his career. By starting the 6’5″ Harden alongside the 7-foot Zubac and a trio of 6’3″ to 6’5″ wings in Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., and Terance Mann, the Clippers have made Harden the second-biggest player on the floor most nights. This allows him to grab rebounds at a power forward rate while still orchestrating the offense as the primary ballhandler and playmaker.
Harden Back to His High-Usage Ways
Harden’s offensive workload so far this season is right in line with his heyday as an MVP candidate. His current averages of 21 points and nearly 9 assists per game are almost identical to his output over the past few seasons. The biggest difference is in his rebounding and shot blocking, where he’s posting career-high rates by a significant margin. But this makes sense given his supersized role in the Clippers’ small-ball lineups.
James is our engine right now. We’re asking a lot of him, but he’s delivering. Having him grab boards and push the break himself adds a whole new dimension to our attack.
– Clippers head coach Mike Traylor
Zubac and Powell are also thriving thanks to Harden’s presence. Zubac is being spoon-fed lobs and putbacks by Harden, while Powell is feasting on catch-and-shoot threes and backdoor cuts, his specialties. Both are playing more minutes than ever before, but neither is being asked to stretch far beyond their established skill sets. In essence, they’re giving supercharged versions of their typical production in expanded roles.
The Kawhi Question
The huge variable in projecting this Clippers squad is the eventual return of Leonard. The two-time Finals MVP is out indefinitely, but expected to return at some point this season. Over the past five seasons, Leonard has suited up for an average of just 43 games per year. When he does come back, his presence will definitely shake up the pecking order.
The most likely scenario sees Powell sliding to a sixth man role upon Leonard’s return. In that alignment, Powell would be gunning for his third straight top 5 finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Harden and Zubac’s numbers would likely dip slightly with Leonard commanding a major share of shots and rebounds. But the team’s ceiling would raise dramatically with a second MVP-level talent on the floor.
Can They Sustain It?
Ultimately, the Clippers’ ability to keep up this early season pace rests on two factors: health and depth. If Harden, Zubac and the wings can handle big minutes all year without wearing down, and if the supporting cast can maintain productivity when the stars sit, this team has scary potential. A closing playoff lineup of Harden, Leonard, Powell, and Zubac, surrounded by energetic defenders, would be a matchup nightmare.
For Harden individually, this season is shaping up as a potential last hurrah in terms of MVP-level impact. He looks motivated and is shouldering an offensive load we haven’t seen from him in years. While asking him to average a triple-double over 82 games is unrealistic, if he can come close while leading the Clippers to a top 4 seed, he’ll vault back into the superstar conversation. Not bad for a guy many had left for dead just a few months ago.
