When James Harden demanded a trade out of Philadelphia last offseason, there were surprisingly few suitors in his market. Despite being a former MVP, most teams were unwilling to surrender valuable assets for a discontented star in the final year of an expensive contract.

Conversely, the Los Angeles Clippers closely monitored the 76er guard throughout the summer. Three games into the 2023 season, the Clippers executed a deal, exchanging a mix of role players and draft picks for the reigning assist leader.

There were sound grounds for the Clippers to make this trade. The duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George had not yet delivered the franchise its inaugural championship, largely due to injuries or postseason collapses. Harden’s addition would furnish the team with further all-star-level assistance for the potentially final season of the core’s tenure together.

Nevertheless, the new roster endured a disastrous commencement, suffering six consecutive defeats immediately after the acquisition, resulting in a 3-7 overall record.

The offense exhibited no trace of rhythm. The ball-dominant starters had only one basketball to share.

In particular, the backcourt pairing of Harden and Russell Westbrook conspicuously struggled to coexist. In their 111-97 debut loss to the New York Knicks, the former teammates each logged 31 minutes, yet they grappled to establish the team’s primary facilitator when on the court concurrently. With no floor general, the starting group took turns creating their own shot, causing a disruption in the flow of the offense.

Los Angeles concluded the game with a season-high 22 turnovers, surpassing their count of assists (21). Westbrook contributed five turnovers of his own.

However, head coach Ty Lue maintained confidence in his team’s ability to smooth out the rough patches despite the troubling start. Following their sixth consecutive defeat, Lue requested Westbrook to function as a reserve. The adjustment proved effective.

With Harden as the starting point guard, Los Angeles holds a 13-3 record. The team’s current eight-game winning streak marks the lengthiest active streak in the league.

Fast forward 40 days from the loss to the Knicks, the Clippers triumphed over New York with a score of 144-122. The offense exhibited an efficient flow with Harden at the helm, while Russ played just 15 minutes. The team generated 36 assists with only eight turnovers. Harden contributed 12 of those assists, in addition to 10 points.

It’s almost 2024 and 35 a night is no longer the norm for James Harden but he’s putting on effortless passing clinics night in and night out. Even though he missed some games this season he’s already 13 assists past Russ Westbrook overall. It really is crazy that he’s found… pic.twitter.com/ppfj78vu4W

— Maxwell Clark – West Coast Hoops (@ClarkieCaps) December 14, 2023

The seasoned player may no longer boast the same scoring prowess he exhibited in Houston, but at 34 years old, he still reigns as one of the league’s premier playmakers. He led the league with 10.7 APG last season. Since assuming the role of point guard, he has been crafting opportunities for teammates while reducing his shot attempts.

Leonard has greatly benefited from Harden’s playmaking. His efficiency dwindled in early November within the tumultuous offense. The Claw averaged 22.6 PPG on 48.2/36.5/84.4 shooting splits last month, but with Harden orchestrating the offense this month, he has elevated to 29.3 PPG on an exceptional 62.3/54.8/95.1 split.

During the initial 16 days post-Harden trade, the team ranked 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio. In the first 16 days of December, their assist-to-turnover ratio ranked sixth.

Not only did the Clippers’ starting unit require time to harmonize, but Harden also needed additional practice. His most recent game before his debut was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, which took place in May. Following the loss to the Knicks, he attributed his lack of fitness to being a partial participant in training camp or preseason.

It’s evident that after the 151-127 triumph in Indiana, Harden has reverted to the 20 & 10 performer he was last season. In Los Angeles’ initial five losses with the Beard, he averaged 15 points and 4.2 assists per game. In December, he is averaging 20.1 points and nearly ten assists. Last week, he delivered a vintage performance with 28 points and 15 assists in a victory without George against the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers do not require Harden to lead in scoring as he did the previous night. Nevertheless, he still departed Indiana with nine assists. If he can reprise his former self in a given matchup, the team becomes an evident contender.

Harden’s Clippers have advanced to 16-10, currently holding the sixth-best record in the Western Conference. The offense has exhibited no signs of deceleration with him, clinching victory in five of their last six games by double digits. Coach Lue’s decision will be remembered as a lifesaver for the season.