James Harden Reveals $17,937,500 Teammate Who Will ‘Curse You Out’ Has Emerged As Clippers’ Leader
The Los Angeles Clippers opened their season with a disappointing loss to the Utah Jazz, but have quickly bounced back with two straight wins. James Harden has been sharp early on, but the 36-year-old admits he’s no longer the vocal leader in the locker room.
Instead, Harden says that role now belongs to one of the team’s newest additions, a veteran center who isn’t afraid to “curse you out” to keep everyone in line.
How Has Brook Lopez Become the Clippers’ Vocal Leader?
After the Clippers’ 114–107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, Harden had nothing but praise for veteran center Brook Lopez, who joined the team this offseason following seven successful years with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“He brings different dynamics to the table on both ends of the ball, which is something that we’ve been missing,” he told reporters after the game. “And he does an unbelievable job. Tonight, I don’t even know how many points he had. Just having him, and he’s a vet that’s won a championship before. So at the end of the day, it’s all about winning for us. And tonight was a great example of that,” Harden said.
Harden, who reportedly took a pay cut to help accommodate Lopez’s arrival, praised the impact the 37-year-old big man has already had on the locker room. Lopez signed a two-year, $17.93 million contract, with $8.75 million guaranteed, and that investment is already paying off.
“He’s gonna curse you out. But his personality is different, but it’s great for our team. And he has a great personality, he’s mad, he’s gonna let you know he’s mad. And we appreciate him, we’re happy he’s on our side now, and we’ve got a long season to go,” Harden added.
James Harden said Brook Lopez will “curse you out” if he doesn’t like what he’s seeing.
“He’s a vet that’s won a championship before. At the end of the day it’s all about winning for us… He’s gonna curse you out. His personality is different but it’s great for our team. He has… pic.twitter.com/PTfcXdvVUX
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) October 27, 2025
On the court, Lopez has been slotted in as the backup center behind Ivica Zubac through the Clippers’ first three games. He played nearly 13 minutes in Sunday’s win, scoring five points and grabbing three rebounds on 2-of-5 shooting.
Lopez made an immediate impression in his debut, posting 15 points and three rebounds in just 17 minutes, followed by a solid six-point, seven-rebound outing in the second game.
Meanwhile, Zubac has maintained his starting role and continues to deliver strong performances. The 27-year-old center put up 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks against the Blazers and has been a steady interior presence since joining the team in 2019. Despite earning more than double Lopez’s salary, it’s clear that both big men are vital to the Clippers’ success.
