James Harden was once again eliminated from the playoffs this season, but it does not appear that he will be looking for brighter pastures.
Law Murray of The Athletic, the LA Clippers beat writer, joined this week on “The Yossi Gozlan Podcast.” During the program, Murray revealed something significant regarding Harden, who has a player option for next season. Murray stated that Harden is anticipated to stay with the Clippers and sign a new contract that corresponds with that of fellow Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
“I just expect James Harden to opt out and get a deal that lines up with Kawhi Leonard,” Murray told reporters. “And that would make 2027 the year to seriously consider [doing] something for the Clippers.”
Former MVP James Harden, who turns 36 in August, experienced a statistical bounce-back this season with the Clippers. With Kawhi Leonard sidelined for much of the year—appearing in only 37 games due to a knee injury—Harden took on the role of the team’s primary offensive catalyst, averaging 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. His strong performance earned him his first All-Star selection since 2022, and he helped lead the Clippers to a 50-win regular season, keeping his personal streak of playoff appearances intact.
However, despite his consistent regular season production, Harden’s well-documented postseason issues resurfaced once again. His scoring dipped to 18.7 points per game during the Clippers’ first-round exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, culminating in a dismal Game 7 showing that drew widespread criticism across social media.
Given his age and recurring postseason failings, Harden, an L.A. native who appears to be at ease with the Clippers, is probably better off staying put. He has a $36.3 million player option for next season, which he may decline in exchange for a new contract equivalent to Leonard’s, who is owed $100 million over the next two seasons. That would keep the Clippers competitive in the meantime (as well as allow them to enhance their squad with the midlevel exception and several trade exceptions), with the possibility of taking a huge swing in 2027 when both Harden and Leonard leave.