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Harden: “I’m not a system player, I’m a system”
The new Clippers player clarified his views on being “restricted” in Philadelphia.
James Harden said he sacrificed millions with his style of play, which felt tied to his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Playa Vista, California. — James Harden He said he sacrificed millions with his style of play, which he realized “was constructed“In his time Philadelphia 76ers.
James Harden He said he tried to do what was necessary to win in Philadelphia, but its management 76 people I don’t like it. Now with LA ClippersBrooklyn hopes he can change some of the negative narrative surrounding him following tough departures from the Nets and Philadelphia and prove he’s still an elite star who can match Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook to win championships. .
In his introductory press conference Thursday at the Clippers facility, James Harden He described what he felt had gone wrong in Philadelphia.
“Make less than $26 million to sign and improve the team. Change my role and allow the media [sintieron] He dominates the ball and my ball control is very effective. “But changing my role, trying to change the narrative, trying to make sacrifices and do whatever it takes to succeed at the highest level,” he said. James Harden. “That’s not talking, it’s other nonsense.
“So I left Brooklyn and I thought I was going to retire as a Sixer. And the front office had other plans. They didn’t want me. There’s a lot of narrative, people think they have a say. But nothing. It’s true.”
Harden held his first workout as a Clipper on Thursday and will make his debut at Madison Square Garden on Monday against the New York Knicks. Ty Lue has a four-day break to use as a minicamp to integrate Harden and PJ Tucker into his offense before starting a three-game road trip in New York.
James Harden, who has averaged 10 assists per game over the past three seasons, hopes to unleash his style of play with Lue. He said he felt limited while with the Sixers, saying he was “bound” and couldn’t score easily or score alongside Joel Embiid.
And Harden explained that “being tied” isn’t necessarily about the number of shots he takes.
“I believe in sports and I’m a creator on the court,” Harden said. “If I had the voice, I’d say, ‘Hey, coach, I’m looking at this. What do you think about this?’ Someone who believes in me, believes in me, understands me, I’m not a system player, I’m a system, you know what I’m saying?
“So, someone having that conversation with me, understanding me and being able to step up and figure things out and make adjustments during the game, that’s really important to me. It’s not about me scoring 34 points. I’m already doing it. I’m done.”
The Clippers are coming James Harden Someone who can raise the ceiling, someone who can make life even easier for Leonard and George. Harden, Leonard, George and Westbrook talked about making sacrifices, going beyond individual stats, and trying to come together to help the Clippers win their first NBA title. Having won in isolated situations, the four stars have to share the ball.
However, one bond they already share is that they grew up in the Los Angeles area and want to do something great.
“I’m back home,” said Harden, who played at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California. “I think about the comfort level of being around my family and some good players on this team. Four guys from California, it’s a unique story. So putting everything together, it made sense to come.
This will be the third time Harden and Westbrook have teamed up after playing together for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
“I knew Russ from the Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles,” Horton said. “So our relationship goes beyond basketball. He’s a reason [de querer ser cambiado a los Clippers]. He also feels he has something to prove. We have a goal that we are trying to achieve. What better way to do it together than in Los Angeles.”
Harden sees similarities between the Clippers and his situation in Brooklyn with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving before injuries derailed the team.
“I was in a similar situation in Brooklyn where you had two guys who could score and create mismatches with defenses,” he said. “So I’m good. We’ve got some good coaches. We’ve got some unselfish players.
“I think I can score. I’m also a very, very good passer, so I can help.”
Harden said he hopes to prove a lot with the Clippers.
“Everything,” Harden said when asked what he had to prove. “I’m an elite individual, and then I can match up with anybody and make my championship run work.”
“So I think we’re all on the same page in the sense of individual stats, it’s all beyond us. We all have a goal, and I think we all know what that is.”
