“They’re not in sync” - Gilbert Arenas feels James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are not a good fit together

Typically, when a franchise has two superstars on its roster, the organization ensures that both players are able to feed off each other’s strengths and elevate the team’s performance together. However, in the case of the Los Angeles Clippers, despite having James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, the results have been highly underwhelming. The team currently sits among the worst teams in the West with a 5-12 record, which has ultimately prompted Gilbert Arenas to proclaim how these two veterans are fundamentally different players who cannot operate in sync on the court together. As a result, he isn’t surprised by the ongoing struggles of the Clippers, which clearly do not appear to stop.

Harden and Kawhi do not elevate each other’s game

For many players in the league, Harden is the ideal ball handler, an orchestrator who can thrive in pick-and-roll plays while consistently creating open looks for his teammates. However, the only downside is that his playing style sees him holding the ball deep into the shot clock, which leaves time to kick the ball out to a wing player to shoot or for rim runners to catch the ball to score via a layup or dunk.

Now, while that style looks sensational with players who know how to create space off the ball, Kawhi operates differently. He is someone who might not demand the ball on every possession, but needs it to force his way into he paint and create his space to shoot mid-range jumpers. Thus, when both these players are on the court, they take their turns to make their presence felt rather than feeding off each other’s energies.

Arenas highlighted the same issue, emphasizing how their scoring style overlap rather than intertwine. On one hand, Leonard requires methodical isolation possessions, while Harden’s ball-dominant style does not allow him the luxury to play in his natural way.

“The teams James wins with, the talent is not here. It’s usually mediocre; they’re just specialists. If there is too much talent, he has to differ so much from getting all these guys to ball,” Arenas said on his show. “Kawhi’s more of an iso type of a player and how James is, he’s gonna hold it, throw it, ya’ll just shoot it. I think him and Kawhi, they’re not in sync.”

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Is it time for the Clippers to break the team?

Despite their experienced core, the Clippers resemble a team weighed down by age and lacking youthful energy to handle the physical demands of the long regular season. Even if they manage to climb into the Play-In seeds in the West, the concern remains that Harden will carry a heavier burden than anyone else, especially as Kawhi continues to miss games. By the time the postseason arrives, if it does for Coach Ty Lue’s team, the strain may be too heavy for Harden to sustain at an elite level.

Therefore, while it may seem early in the season, the Clippers are running out of time and cannot afford passivity. It may be necessary to dismantle the Harden and Kawhi pairing before the situation deteriorates further. Who knows, it may be about time for owner Steve Ballmer to finally choose another veteran over Kawhi and build his team around him, to achieve the best results, especially when the West is so highly competitive.

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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.