James Harden Reportedly to Sign New $81.5M Clippers Contract After Declining Option

James Harden is staying with the Los Angeles Clippers after inking a new deal with the team on Sunday.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Harden declined his $36.3 million contract option for the 2025-26 season and signed a new two-year, $81.5 million deal with the team.

Harden, 35, had a bit of a resurgence with the Clippers last year after taking on a smaller role in the 2023-24 season. He averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game and was the team's leading scorer during the regular season.

Los Angeles needed someone to step up last season after Paul George left for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Harden did just that as he once again looked like the offensive weapon he's been for most of his career.

Harden and the Clippers ultimately didn't have enough to make a deep postseason run as they lost to the Denver Nuggets in seven games.

Harden spent eight full seasons with the Houston Rockets, winning MVP in 2018, but has been a journeyman over the past few years. He was with the Brooklyn Nets for less than two seasons before a messy tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers that ended with him being traded to Los Angeles.

But after a few years of bouncing from team to team, it seems Harden has found the place he wants to stay for the long term.

The move to sign a new deal was widely expected. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported in early June that Harden was "trending towards" declining his option, but there was a "growing belief" that he and the Clippers are interested in working out a deal that would keep him in Los Angeles through 2027 alongside Kawhi Leonard.

Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank made it clear earlier this month that the team wanted Harden back this season, regardless of whether he opted into his contract option or opted out and signed a new deal.

“He’s our No. 1 priority,” Frank said, per the Orange County Register's Janis Carr. “We are super hopeful that James is here and he’s here for a long time. Yet, at the same time, we always respect that he has a player option. He can opt in and obviously we’re super, super excited with that (possibility), or he can opt out and hopefully we can do a deal that makes sense for both sides.

“James was phenomenal (last season) and we hope to continue to see his play.”

Given Harden's play in 2024-25, it makes sense why the team would want to keep him in Los Angeles for longer than his option would have. Harden was also not eligible for an extension, so opting out of his contract and signing a new deal was the best move to ensure Harden would remain in Los Angeles for more than just one more season.