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**Headline: James Harden Re-Signs with Clippers on Two-Year, $81.5 Million Deal**
Los Angeles, CA – Veteran guard James Harden, an 11-time NBA All-Star, has declined his player option with the Los Angeles Clippers but will return to the team next season on a two-year, $81.5 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Harden, who will turn 36 in August, opted to forgo his $36.3 million player option in favor of the longer-term deal. He averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in 79 games for the Clippers this past season, leading them to a 50-32 record and the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Playing alongside Kawhi Leonard, Harden’s arrival significantly boosted the Clippers’ offense, particularly benefiting center Ivica Zubac, who enjoyed a career-best season, averaging 16.8 points per game. Harden’s pick-and-roll partnership with Zubac proved particularly effective, solidifying Zubac as one of the league’s most efficient roll men.
While Harden started strong in the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, his performance waned as the series progressed. A disappointing Game 7, where he scored just seven points, highlighted a recurring criticism of his career: a tendency to underperform in crucial playoff moments.
Harden’s trade to the Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers in November 2023 came after requesting to be moved, following disagreements with team executives. Despite questions surrounding his age, past playoff performances, and off-court conduct, the Clippers are banking on Harden’s talent and experience to contribute to a championship push. The new contract, an extension over his $70 million deal last summer, reflects the Clippers’ belief in Harden’s value to the team.
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