James Harden certainly seemed to take a shot at former teammate Paul George following the Los Angeles Clippers’ win on Saturday.
The Clippers won their fourth in a row by beating the Dallas Mavericks 135-104 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday. The win moved the Clippers to 46-32 on the season, and the team appears to be peaking at the right time.
After the game, Harden was asked what made this year’s team so much different than last year’s. His response certainly seemed to be a shot at George.
“Personnel. You guys know. You know the players we had last year,” Harden said.
James Harden on the Clippers this year vs. last year:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 6, 2025
“It’s just different. It’s just different. Different team… We got guys that know their role and know what they’re supposed to be doing consistently on a night to night basis. From the beginning of the season. It’s just a… pic.twitter.com/RtbIHB0Usg
Harden’s comment came after he praised the current roster for knowing their role and consistently doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Whether Harden meant it or not, George and Russell Westbrook are the two major pieces of last year’s Clippers that did not return this year. George left for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, has struggled with injuries, and has suggested that he was not pleased with his role when he did play.
The Clippers have not missed George. Norman Powell has essentially stepped into the role and is averaging 22 points per game, while Harden has capably conducted the offense. The team has stayed afloat even with Kawhi Leonard limited to 34 games due to his ongoing knee problems.
Harden may not have meant anything by the comment, but fans are inevitably going to see it as a remark on George’s departure. Considering the Clippers reportedly did not try that hard to keep George, it’s possible they might have known something.
