The Clippers were mentally prepared to start the season without Paul George. But Kawhi Leonard? He was supposed to step up and lead the team. Surprisingly, the squad even managed to find success in his absence, occasionally showing flashes of brilliance with impressive winning streaks. And a lot of the credit goes to James Harden. However, now that their main man is making progress toward returning to the hardwood, Harden had an unexpected reaction.

James Harden was prepared to address questions about Kawhi Leonard after their 104-88 victory over the Kings. When a reporter implied the team had something to prove to those doubting their success without Kawhi, Harden dismissed the notion, saying, “We don’t care” about outside opinions. He elaborated, “We haven’t even thought about like, honestly, like, Kawhi’s gonna be ready when Kawhi’s ready.”

He then emphasized that like many teams they may not have the most talented roster, so their focus is on working hard in every fixture. “We got things that we gotta control and figure out because we are not as talented as everybody,” Harden said. “So we gotta focus on every game, but, like, literally break it down from possession by possession to quarter by quarter like, every increment, we gotta break it down and kinda and focus on that. And we can control everything else that happens in our favor.”

Harden emphasized that the team is focusing on what they can control, like strategy and effort, while prioritizing attention to detail and analyzing each game to secure wins. He wrapped up by stating, “We’ll embrace it. We don’t have the luxury of worrying about other things outside of that.”

The Clippers’ head coach Ty Lue confirmed that there is still time for Kawhi to rejoin the team. While he has been working on his shot, he isn’t fit enough for a comeback on their road trip, the HC told the media on Monday. In the meantime, the team is in the safe hands of Harden, who has been receiving praise for his outstanding form.

“Elite level” – Former NBA star is all praises for James Harden

James Harden showcased his immense capabilities during his remarkable stint with the Rockets. Since then, he has struggled to regain his previous form. However, this season, he is giving everyone a glimpse of his MVP era (2018) and Chandler Parsons couldn’t help but applaud it.

“James Harden, he’s been fat-shamed, he’s been out of shape, people have been cursing…he’s playing at an elite level,” the former Mavs star said on Run It Back while talking about how the NBA is driven by the older stars like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, James Harden and Kevin Durant. He further confessed that he wouldn’t have been able to make it if he were in their position.

Harden has helped the franchise achieve a 10-7 record, contributing averages of 20.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists. His scoring ability has been crucial in compensating for the Clippers’ defensive struggles. With his strong mindset, the 35-year-old will lead the team through their next four road games this month, and hopefully, Kawhi will be ready to return after the trip.