Shortly after James Harden and P.J. Tucker arrived in their new locker room with the LA Clippers, Russell Westbrook greeted his former Houston Rockets teammates with a handshake and an embrace.
Although the proposed trade between the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers had not been finalized as of early Tuesday evening in Los Angeles, Harden and Tucker received a warm welcome from the Clippers the moment they stepped out of their SUV at the Crypto.com Arena loading dock.
Team president Lawrence Frank was present to welcome both players and guide them to the Clippers’ locker room. Not long into their walk, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer came over to extend greetings to both Harden and Tucker.
Inside the locker room, Westbrook and Harden were reunited. The two had previously played together in Oklahoma City and Houston. Westbrook took a break from his usual pregame routine and playfully suggested to Harden that he could occupy the other side of the locker room, where his new locker was located across from Westbrook’s.
Subsequently, Tucker and Harden joined Westbrook and Paul George to catch up for over an hour before the Clippers faced the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
When asked by a reporter in the locker room how excited he was, Harden replied, “You don’t understand.”
While walking to the locker room, Harden also sang “You Dropped A Bomb On Me” by the Gap Band, which was playing in the nearby trainer’s room.
Even if the trade becomes official on Tuesday night, it is anticipated that Harden and Tucker will likely not be in the lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
Following the game, the Clippers have a four-day break before embarking on a three-game road trip in New York against the Knicks on Monday. During this time, the Clippers can utilize those four days for a mini-training camp to integrate Harden and Tucker once the deal is officially completed.
Clippers coach Ty Lue refrained from commenting on the trade before Tuesday night’s game because the deal had not been officially confirmed yet.
In Short
The blog discusses the arrival of James Harden and P.J. Tucker to the LA Clippers’ locker room. Despite the trade not being finalized, they received a warm welcome from former teammate Russell Westbrook. The article highlights the camaraderie among players and the anticipation surrounding their addition to the team. The blog also mentions the expected timeline for their official debut and how the Clippers plan to integrate them. Clippers coach Ty Lue refrained from commenting on the trade, as it had not yet been officially confirmed.
James Harden
James Harden is a prominent NBA player known for his scoring ability and distinctive step-back move. He’s a former MVP and has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Brooklyn Nets. Harden is recognized for his iconic beard and is considered one of the league’s top talents.
Harden was selected as the 3rd overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He played for the Thunder from 2009 to 2012, where he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2012.
In 2012, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he became one of the league’s most prolific scorers. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 2017-2018 season.
Harden is known for his scoring ability, particularly his skill in three-point shooting and drawing fouls, which led to the term “Harden’s signature step-back.”
He has been an All-Star multiple times and has been named to All-NBA First Teams numerous times throughout his career.
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