There’s no question James Harden is one of the NBA’s most efficient and dangerous offensive stars. But after a recent Los Angeles Clippers win over the Chicago Bulls, the Beard has done something both insane and simple.
In that game, the Clippers went home with the 112-102 win against Chicago. Paul George led the way for Los Angeles by dropping 22 points five rebounds, and nine assists while Kawhi Leonard added 19 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 24 points and 10 assists. Nikola Vucevic contributed 22 points and 11 rebounds while Coby White added 19 points and 5 rebounds.
The win places Los Angeles in the fourth seed with a 41-21 record, just behind the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bulls, meanwhile, have the ninth place in the East with a 31-33 standing.
But above all the players mentioned, it was Harden who garnered the most attention that night. During the Clippers win over the Bulls, the All-Star guard posted 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 33 minutes on the court.
Los Angeles Clippers Star James Harden’s Triple-Double is One For the Books
While it may look like a simple triple-double, there’s one element that sets it apart from any feat of its kind in the NBA. According to a tweet by StatMuse on X:
“James Harden is the 2nd player in NBA history to record a triple-double without attempting a two-pointer. The first was Steve Blake in 2014,” StatMuse tweeted.
Over the course of the season, the Beard is averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for the Clippers. These stats are a far cry from Harden’s three-year stretch when he led the league in scoring by averaging 33.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.9 steals from 2017 to 2020.
Even though Harden’s numbers have dipped, there’s still no doubt he can be a valuable piece for any contender. As it stands, his position alongside George and Leonard will help the Clippers contend for a ring this season.
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