James Harden re-signs with Clippers on richer deal

James Harden has opted to decline his player option for the 2025–26 season and will instead sign a fresh two-year, $81.5 million contract to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers.

This new agreement represents a substantial pay raise from his previous two-year, $70 million deal, signed shortly after being acquired by the team during the 2023–24 campaign.

The new contract includes a mutual option for the second year. Should the Clippers choose not to exercise that option, Harden will still receive a partial guarantee.

Importantly, this deal now runs concurrently with Kawhi Leonard’s current contract, which is set to expire after the 2026–27 season, giving the Clippers two more years of a potential championship window with their remaining core.

In his first full season with the Clippers, Harden proved he could still play at an elite level, averaging 22.8 points per game while shooting 41% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc, and 87% from the free-throw line.

He also added 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists per contest, earning him a place on the All-NBA Third Team. His consistent production helped the Clippers outperform preseason expectations.

After losing Paul George in free agency last summer, Los Angeles restructured its roster around Harden, Leonard, and Ivica Zubac. However, the team fell short in the postseason, suffering a first-round elimination in a seven-game battle with the Denver Nuggets.

The Clippers originally acquired Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in October 2023.

The deal sent Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin to Philadelphia, along with multiple draft assets including an unprotected 2028 first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap, and another first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The franchise’s continued investment in Harden signals their belief that he remains a key figure in their pursuit of an NBA championship.