As the second and third leaders of the Clippers last season, Paul George and Harden have both had brilliant careers, garnering numerous honors and achievements. Even though they are now in the twilight of their careers, both are still core players for their respective teams, holding important tactical positions and roles within the team.
At 35 years old, Harden has delivered his best performance in recent seasons. In the absence of Paul George and with Leonard out for the season, Harden has become the undisputed leader of the Clippers this season. With increased ball possession and status, Harden has put forth a highly convincing performance. To date, Harden has played 29 games for the Clippers, averaging 33.9 minutes per game, scoring 22 points, grabbing 6.5 rebounds, dishing out 8.1 assists, making 1.5 steals, and blocking 0.6 shots, with a shooting percentage of 38.9%, a three-point percentage of 34.5%, and a free throw percentage of 89.3%. Although Harden's efficiency is low this season, his contributions and influence on the team go far beyond what the statistics can show.
Judging solely from the data, Harden remains among the top guards in the league. Despite facing numerous challenges, Harden has led the Clippers to an impressive record of 17 wins and 13 losses, ranking seventh in the West. Although he cannot match his peak offensive threat, Harden is still a heavily relied upon offensive point for the Clippers this season. He has scored a total of 639 points with an average of 22 points, making him the team's second-highest scorer, and even achieving two games with over 40 points. In addition, Harden has set an example by playing hard on defense, delivering a very balanced performance!
On the other hand, 34-year-old Paul George, who signed a supermax contract worth $212 million over 4 years during the offseason this year, was expected to prove himself again in the new season as a balanced forward. However, he has once again been plagued by injuries. To date, George has played 18 games for the 76ers, averaging 32.1 minutes per game, scoring 15.9 points, grabbing 5.7 rebounds, dishing out 4.9 assists, making 1.8 steals, and blocking 0.5 shots, with a shooting percentage of 40.6%, a three-point percentage of 31%, and a free throw percentage of 80.4%, showing a dismal performance. In the first 28 games of the season, George has already missed 10 games due to injury.
After joining the 76ers, George not only suffered from injuries but also experienced difficulty adapting, failing to deliver a performance commensurate with his salary. To date, George has scored a total of 287 points with an average of 15.9 points, which is clearly unsatisfactory for a superstar scorer. Plagued by frequent injuries, the 76ers have only managed to achieve a record of 11 wins and 17 losses, ranking 12th in the East and outside the playoff play-in tournament, which is clearly not proportional to their high investment.
Overall, the 35-year-old Harden has shown a resurgence in his career, re-proving himself. When the team's mainstay Leonard was out long-term, Harden was able to step up and carry the team, fully demonstrating his personal ability and leadership qualities, which is indeed quite remarkable. As for Paul George, his performance has been disappointing due to injuries, and he has even become a typical example of high pay and low output. This season is only the first year of his $212 million contract, with three more years of top salary remaining. Looking at it now, there is a high possibility that George's contract will become a junk contract!
