"Always the hate" - James Harden sounds off on relentless Kawhi Leonard criticism after forward's Game 2 clinic

James Harden has a message for Kawhi Leonard's critics after his teammate's nearly flawless performance helped the LA Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets in Game 2. Leonard dropped 39 points on Monday as the Clippers outlasted the Nuggets 105-102 to tie their first-round series at 1-1.

Speaking at the postgame press conference, Harden was asked about the hate Leonard has been receiving since he signed for the Clippers. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has endured a lot of injuries since 2020 and hasn't had a healthy postseason run for Steve Ballmer's franchise.

Harden explained that "The Klaw" doesn't get enough love and credit for what he can do on the court when healthy. Some just want to hate and be critical of one of the best players ever.

"We don’t appreciate how great he is when he's actually out there and putting up performances like this tonight," Harden said, according to Clippers beat reporter Joey Linn. "It's always the negative, it's always the hate. It's something we gotta live with, I guess, in this world. For me, being closer to him, and every single day seeing the work he puts in, you appreciate him."

Kawhi Leonard looked like his old self in Game 2, scoring 39 points on 15-for-19 shooting from the field. Leonard had every answer for the Denver Nuggets, putting on a show inside the Ball Arena while helping the LA Clippers avoid being down 0-2.

Monday's game was close, just like Game 1, but the Clippers managed to avoid another overtime. Nikola Jokic, who had another triple-double, had a chance to force an extra five-minute session but missed a fadeaway 3-point shot from 25 feet as the buzzer sounded.

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Kawhi Leonard looking to stay healthy to finally give the Clippers a playoff run

Kawhi Leonard looking to stay healthy to finally give the Clippers a playoff run. (Photo: IMAGN)

When Kawhi Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019, many fans and analysts put him on a pedestal close to LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. Leonard signed with the LA Clippers the following season and was touted to dethrone James as "The King" of Los Angeles.

However, Leonard has failed to stay healthy when it mattered the most for the Clippers. He did get a good run in 2020 inside the NBA bubble, but the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets.

In 2021, Leonard suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second round, though the Clippers still made the Western Conference Finals. They fell short without "The Klaw" against the Phoenix Suns.

Kawhi Leonard would miss the entire 2021-22 NBA season, and there have been injuries left and right since. The Clippers were back in the playoffs in 2023, but the two-time NBA Finals MVP played just two games after suffering another knee injury. It was the same story last year, as he played just two games before going down with a knee issue.

The Clippers are surely hoping he'll be healthy in this year's playoffs, especially with the way the team played down the stretch. They're a legitimate contender if their best player stays healthy.