The performance of 36-year-old Harden is concerning! His preseason shooting percentage is below 37%, and scouts say he is not as good as in previous years at this time.

On October 18th Beijing time, Clippers guard James Harden might need to adjust to his peak condition gradually through games once the regular season begins next week. In the newest podcast episode, ESPN journalist Winhurst disclosed that an NBA scout described Harden’s current condition as "not very good."

"I think the Clippers as a whole look excellent; they performed very well in the second half of last season. I know they have made some roster changes and are aware the team is aging, which might bring injury concerns. Honestly, Harden’s current form isn’t great—scouts mentioned that Harden was much better at this stage in previous years. However, Leonard seems to be in great shape.”

Harden’s preseason performance has indeed been underwhelming. He started in 3 games, averaging 6.0 points with a shooting percentage of 36.8%, along with 7.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

It is not too surprising that Harden is not at his best as the regular season approaches. Two years ago, he admitted he needed to gradually reach his “James Harden-level peak” through playing games. At that time, his offseason and preseason training plans were disrupted due to a standoff with the Philadelphia 76ers, leading to a similar situation.

Even though he missed games early that season due to trade issues and was not in top form when joining the Clippers, he still played 72 games throughout the season, averaging 16.6 points, shooting 38.1% from three, and dishing out 8.5 assists per game.

According to U.S. media, although 36-year-old Harden may no longer be at his career peak, as long as he stays healthy and can play, he remains one of the best players among his generation.

His career achievements are impressive: 2017-18 regular season MVP, 3-time scoring champion, 2-time assist leader, 8-time NBA All-NBA Team selection, 11-time All-Star, and included among the NBA 75 greatest players, with only a championship ring missing.

If Harden needs more rest early in the season, the Clippers’ backcourt has enough depth to support him—the roster also includes Paul, Dunn, and Bill. Harden will play with the Clippers in the 2025-26 regular season opener against the Utah Jazz.