On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
One thing many people haven't done this NBA season is give James Harden his flowers. On the newest episode of the Draymond Green Podcast, the Warriors forward unexpectedly made sure to do just that.
"I think by the way, James Harden should be an All-Star this year," Green said. "I'm not sure how people are viewing that, but he only missed like the first four games for the Clippers and then he got traded there. He's playing at an All-Star level, and the way their team is playing, I think James Harden is an All-Star this year, should be."
The big question that Draymond Green remains curious about is if Harden won't be judged on the performance he's putting up with the Clippers, and will be judged based on how he got to LA.
"Will people judge him on what's happened the past few years," Green asked. "That's the question. James Harden should be an All-Star this year, James Harden is playing at an All-Star level."
While James Harden certainly deserves to be an All-Star this season, so do Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. It would be tough to give a fourth-seeded Clippers team three different All-Stars. If they were a runaway first seed, then it would be much easier to justify. It's highly likely that Harden's All-Star position this season could just be a victim of a stacked Western Conference.
More must-reads:
- New Jimmy Butler report raises red flags
- New evidence casts doubt on when Clippers cut ties with fraudulent company
- The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Clippers Were 'Terrified' Of Losing Kawhi Leonard After Ditching Spurs
The Clippers’ handling of Kawhi Leonard was anything but casual. According to a report from Baxter Holmes, the team enforced a strict protocol for how staff could speak publicly about their star forward, with one insider explaining just how much fear surrounded the situation. “If this guy is willing to tell the Spurs to go f*ck themselves, he’s not going to hesitate to tell us,” a Clippers source told ESPN's Baxter Holmes. “Everybody was afraid of Kawhi leaving.” It's obvious why the Clippers didn't want to lose Kawhi Leonard. When he's on the court, he's one of the best two-way players available as a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, and six-time NBA All-Star. With career averages of 20.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, he has very few holes in his game, and his impact on teammates is major. Back in 2019, Kawhi's stock was at an all-time high after coming off a championship with the Raptors. When he hit free agency, several teams raced to earn his commitment, all while he and his camp made illegal demands in the form of ownership stock, exclusive endorsement deals, and even a house. Those requests only came just two years removed from a bitter war with the Spurs, where he held out on the team and refused to play for them despite being cleared by team doctors. At the time, his camp claimed distrust of the Spurs' medical staff, and it was enough to effectively end his good relationship with the team right there. By the time 2019 free agency came around, Kawhi already had a history of sowing chaos, and it should have been a warning to the teams hoping to sign him. After a relatively quick process, Leonard joined the Clippers that summer, and it was supposed to usher in a new era of prosperity for the franchise. Instead, it's been nothing but disappointment with just three playoff series wins over the past six years. To make matters even worse, Kawhi hasn't been particularly easy to deal with. He reportedly doesn't communicate with the organization and often keeps them in the dark about which way he's feeling. That's on top of the injury struggles and load management practices, which have limited him to just 157 games over the past four seasons. Despite Kawhi's failures to lead the Clippers, they've done everything to appease him for fear of losing their biggest star since Chris Paul. Knowing what he did to the Spurs, the Clippers were determined to make it work with Leonard and ensure his happiness by whatever means necessary. Now, however, the situation has changed. Amid the latest scandal and his lack of achievements in Los Angeles, many on the Clippers are ready to move on from Leonard. His tenure has been a complete disaster, and the thought of losing Kawhi now might bring more feelings of relief than terror. With another two years and $100.3 million on his contract, Leonard is likely to play this out in Clipperland, but it's possible he could force his way out if he grows restless with the situation in Los Angeles. Until then, the Clippers have to do what they can to make the most of his presence and try to win a championship before losing their most talented star.
Reporter offers theory on why Kirk Cousins has not been traded
There have been multiple injuries to starting quarterbacks through the first two weeks of the NFL season, which has led to speculation that the Atlanta Falcons might finally trade Kirk Cousins. It does not sound like that is close to happening. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Thursday that no teams have reached out to the Falcons about trading for Cousins despite injuries to Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy, Minnesota Vikings' J.J. McCarthy, New York Jets' Justin Fields and Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels. Cousins was once considered the type of player who would generate buzz if a team's starting QB were to go down. So why hasn't it happened? According to Rapoport, the Falcons have no real incentive to trade Cousins. Cutting the 37-year-old never made sense, as Atlanta has to pay Cousins anyway, hence why the asking price has not dropped significantly. "He is a proven starting quarterback who happens to be the backup quarterback. If Michael Penix gets hurt, Cousins will step in there," Rapoport said. "That allows the Falcons to drive a very, very hard bargain. In other words, if you're going to trade for Kirk Cousins, if you're a team that says, 'Alright, we gotta have this guy,' you're gonna have to pay some of the salary and you're gonna have to give up a real draft pick. That is the luxury the Falcons have. "If they've got to keep him, they can just keep him because he's an excellent, excellent backup quarterback. Perhaps that is why we have not seen a deal yet, but every time there is a real, long-term quarterback injury, we're gonna have the same conversation this season." Kirk Cousins was benched for poor play in 2024 Cousins lost his job to Michael Penix Jr. midway through the 2024 season. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback got off to a decent start in his first season with Atlanta, but then played poorly for a stretch. Cousins finished with 3,508 yards, 18 touchdown passes and a career-worst 16 interceptions. There were numerous trade rumors involving Cousins during the offseason, but nothing materialized. That is mainly because he is only in the second year of a four-year, $180M contract. The Falcons do not seem eager to eat much of that salary in a trade, unless a team were willing to make it worth their while with draft-pick compensation. A desperate team could still want Kirk Cousins The Bengals are bracing for a lengthy absence for Burrow, who could potentially miss the remainder of the season. The other quarterbacks who have gotten hurt are not expected to be sidelined for very long. It is possible that teams aren't desperate enough this early in the season to give up assets for Cousins. There also seems to be a belief among some that Cousins' skills have declined, which makes it tougher for the Falcons to ask for much in a potential deal.
Concerning report emerges about Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin's health
The Washington Capitals began their first day of training camp with an injury scare, as star left winger Alexander Ovechkin left practice early with a lower-body injury. Alexander Ovechkin addresses the media It wasn't immediately clear if the injury affected the same leg that Ovechkin broke last year, when a fractured fibula cost the Capitals captain 16 games. The injury was not severe enough to restrict Ovechkin from speaking to reporters following Thursday's practice. Per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti, Ovechkin sounded "unconcerned" about his lower-body injury, but he added that the Capitals captain might not skate on Friday when training camp resumes. Gulitti added that Washington head coach Spencer Carbery called the decision "precautionary" to take Ovechkin off the ice. Ovechkin, who turned 40 on Wednesday, enters the 2025 season as the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer with 897 tallies. When asked if he is approaching this season as if it would be his last, Ovechkin said he didn't know. Ovechkin is also the NHL's all-time leader in regular-season power-play goals (326), game-winning goals (136) and shots on net (6,864). Depending on the severity of this injury, Capitals fans may have to wait to watch Ovechkin continue padding those totals and try to lead the Caps to their second Stanley Cup.
After announcing retirement, Clayton Kershaw's next stop is Cooperstown
The Los Angeles Dodgers are about to lose a franchise icon. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw announced on Thursday that he is retiring at the end of the season. Kershaw did not make his 2025 debut until May 17 but quickly showed that he still has something left in the tank. He has been a steady presence in a Dodgers team that has used 17 different starting pitchers this season, posting a 3.53 ERA and a 1.216 WHiP over 102 innings, striking out 71 batters with 30 walks. His 20 starts this season are second on the Dodgers, trailing only Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 2025 season has been a fitting capstone on Kershaw's career. An 11-time All-Star, Kershaw was a three-time Cy Young award winner and took home the 2014 National League MVP. He took home the pitching Triple Crown in 2011, one of just 22 pitchers to accomplish that feat. He became the 20th player, and fourth left-hander, in major league history to strike out 3000 batters, reaching that plateau on July 3. For all of Kershaw's accomplishments, there was one that had eluded the Dodgers' ace — a World Series ring. He was able to get that monkey off of his back in 2020 as the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games. Kershaw was his dominant self during the series, allowing just three runs on seven hits and three walks over 11.2 innings, striking out 14 batters as the Dodgers won both of his starts. Kershaw has one more stop once he hangs up his cleats for good. Cooperstown will be calling once he is on the ballot, his dominance earning the highest honor in the game. It will be a well-deserved honor for a pitcher who was one of the best of his generation.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
