James Harden returns to Clippers on 2-year, $70 million deal
James Harden plans to sign a two-year, $70 million contract to return to the LA Clippers, according to multiple reports.
www.nba.comI don’t have live access in this turn to pull fresh updates, but I can summarize the latest widely reported info up to now. If you want, I can fetch current sources in the next step.Direct answer: As of the latest widely reported updates, James Harden agreed to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year contract worth about $81.5 million, with the second year including a player option and partial guarantee, after declining his previous option for the 2025-26 season. This keeps him in LA through at least the 2026-27 season, aligning him with Kawhi Leonard.
Context and key details:
- The move was reported in late June 2025 and described as Harden declining his $36.3 million option for 2025-26 to sign a new two-year deal with the Clippers.[1][2][4]
- The contract structure generally outlined: two years, $81.5 million total, with the second year carrying a player option and partial guarantee, enabling flexibility for both Harden and the team.[4][1]
- Performance notes from that period: Harden posted strong numbers (roughly 22.8 points, around 8-9 assists per game) and aimed to continue productive play in Los Angeles.[1][4]
- The Clippers signaled this as a priority, hoping to maintain a long-term partnership with Harden alongside Kawhi Leonard.[2][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the most current outlets and provide direct quotes and updated contract specifics. I can also create a quick side-by-side snapshot of Harden’s contract terms over his recent deals for comparison. Please tell me which format you prefer.
Sources:
- Harden signs new Clippers contract reports (ESPN/Shams Charania) detailing the 2-year, $81.5M deal and option structure.[2][4][1]
- Additional confirmations from Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated corroborating the $81.5M figure and long-term plan with the Clippers.[4][2]