NBA Insider Highlights James Harden’s ‘Target’ Date for Clippers Debut

The Clippers would like Harden to get some practice in with his new teammates.

NBA fans eager to see James Harden’s debut with the Clippers will have to wait for a few days. Many were likely hoping that Harden would take the floor for Wednesday night’s crosstown matchup with the Lakers. 

With the game nationally televised on ESPN, that might have been ideal. But with Harden just joining the Clippers, that probably wasn’t realistic. The guard will instead get some practices in with his new teammates and get acclimated to Tyronn Lue’s offense, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. 

The Clippers have five days off following Wednesday’s game, which should be enough time for Harden to settle in. That points to next Monday’s matchup at the Knicks as the target for his season debut. 

Though Harden has stayed in shape during his time away from the 76ers and ramped up his preparations upon returning to the team, the apparent feeling is that he needs more than individual workouts before being game-ready. 

"James Harden will not be playing tonight... The plan is for him to get practice over the next few days."@ShamsCharania reports that James Harden will not be playing in tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

📺https://t.co/qYBPWhYgh7 pic.twitter.com/CuEyzMU4mN

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) November 1, 2023

“I think he has been working out individually,” Charania said on FanDuel’s Run It Back. “He’s been doing a lot on his own away from the Sixers during the last several weeks. But we know he’s only gone through one five-on-five scrimmage in the last month, and that came all the way on Oct. 7.”

If Harden won’t play until the Clippers get to Madison Square Garden, some have joked that he might as well have stayed on the East Coast with Philadelphia. However, following a nearly week-long timeline to work with the team and coaching staff should be beneficial.