SAN FRANCISCO – While on his walk to the Los Angeles Clippers’ bus recently, James Harden gladly made time for some boys from south Los Angeles who had postgame passes near the visiting locker room at Chase Center. The All-Star guard’s visit with the aspiring hoopers brought back fond memories of his AAU basketball days in Los Angeles.
After taking pictures with the elementary school boys, Harden huddled them up to offer some words of wisdom.
“Y’all hear me. Make sure y’all grades are good, listen to y’all parents and you’ll be in the NBA one day,” Harden said after logging 39 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against the Golden State Warriors on April 13.
Harden has also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, but representing his native Los Angeles in a Clippers jersey has been sentimental and purposeful for him on and off the court. Tonight, Harden and the Clippers host their first playoff game at the new Intuit Dome in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
While there is a long playoff road to go with NBA Most Valuable Player candidate Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets currently in their way, Harden believes the Clippers have the talent to win their first NBA title in franchise history. A healthy Kawhi Leonard, the 2019 NBA Finals MVP, is paramount in that quest for the Clippers. The Clippers’ defense has been impressive as well.
Being a part of such history in Los Angeles with the Clippers would also give Harden the only thing he’s missing on his illustrious NBA resume: a championship.
“I’m so comfortable in my world and what I supposed to be doing out there,” said Harden, who is averaging 25 points, 9.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds in two playoff games versus Denver. “I think we got the team. We can play isolation basketball with two great ISO players. We got postgame with Zu [Ivica Zubac] and Whi [Leonard]. Defensively, we’ve been really, really good all year. So, for me, it’s about just keeping my composure, just going out there and reading the game and doing what I am supposed to be doing…
“We got a chance to be the last team standing, which is easier said than done. But we focus on ourselves. We are playing well right now.”
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden attempts a shot under pressure during Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs at Ball Arena on April 21.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The 11-time NBA All-Star was born on Aug. 26, 1989, in Los Angeles where he and his two siblings were raised in a challenging environment by their mother, Monja Willis, in Compton. Willis put a basketball goal on her garage so Harden could play the game at home and stay out of harm’s way. He also first began playing team basketball for a recreation center in nearby Watts at age 10.
Harden once wrote a note to his mom in high school that read: “Could u wake up at 7:00. And could u leave me a couple of dollars – James Harden. P.S. Keep this paper. Imma be a star.” Those words came true as he went from becoming a McDonald’s All-American at Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, and starring for Arizona State en route to a future Hall of Fame NBA career.
“He was good then. I saw the potential then,” Willis told Andscape in 2017. “I didn’t really like basketball or like sports, period. But I knew my kids had to do something to keep their mind busy.”
The Clippers acquired Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 1, 2023. In Harden, the Clippers have one of the NBA’s most feared scorers to play alongside Leonard. Harden is also making an impact off the court in Los Angeles through his Impact13 Foundation, which was launched in 2021.
The goal of the Impact13 Foundation is to “empower historically underserved communities facing socioeconomic hardships through initiatives that foster lasting positive change and inspire a future where their full potential is realized.” The foundation has made an impact Beijing; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Philadelphia, Brooklyn and, most notably, Houston. But now that Harden is playing in Los Angeles, there have been more activations in his hometown that are truly making an impact.
The Impact13 Foundation joined forces with the Houston Astros Foundation and Relief Gang in January to fill an 18-wheeler truck with toiletries, gift cards, water, blankets, clothing, diapers and more in Houston to give those affected by the Los Angeles fires in Altadena and Pasadena. The foundation also partnered with Strong Home Network, a non-profit family support, and the Burger Guyz to aid and feed those impacted by fires in Altadena. Harden’s foundation also has given school supplies to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
“My foundation, the impact that I have while still playing basketball at a high level is very, very important,” Harden said. “What better chance than now? I can do everything [here]. The last couple years, Houston was basically where I called home. But just being on the East Coast in Brooklyn and Philly, I’m making calls from a distance. With my presence now being here, showing face, it means way more. So, I’m grateful for being at home in [NBA] Year 16 and being able to do things that I can do on the court and off the court.
“[My upbringing] gives me the extra motivation to go out there and overly do what I’ve been doing. Obviously, basketball is going to take care of itself. But just my presence off the court, [I want to] make sure the kids over here are feeling the same love that I never really got when I was a kid.”
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (left) during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 30 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images
Another luxury for Harden living in Los Angeles is being more present with his family and close friends at the age of 35. Harden told Andscape that his mother, who lives in Los Angeles, had cancer while he was playing for Philadelphia. The good news is his mother is now cancer-free, a source told Andscape. Harden can see his mother and other loved ones much more easily now that he is back home.
“As you get older, things started to happen to your family,” Harden said. “Just not being close to her was just like, I’m still playing basketball, trying to figure that out.
“So, as you get older, you start realizing what’s important and what things you got to hold on to and cherish. Me being at home with family and friends and still able to do what I love to do; it’s just the ultimate blessing in life.”
Living in Los Angeles and playing for the talented Clippers, Harden is happy and confident that his NBA legacy can and will be enriched further at home.
“Literally, my life is perfect. God gave me the perfect life. He’s blessed me,” Harden said. “He’s put me in a position to be able to take care of a lot of people, impact a lot of people. That’s like the icing on the cake for me.”
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.
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