"Harden is stirring the pot" - Ex-NFL Pro Bowler singles out James Harden’s overlooked role as leader for injured Clippers

James Harden's role as a leader with the LA Clippers has been underrated this season, particularly given the team's bad luck with injuries to key players. Former NFL Pro Bowl linebacker and longtime Clippers fan Marcellus Wiley spoke about this on the Gil's Arena show in a clip uploaded on Sunday.

"Not for his leadership," Marcellus Wiley said. "Everybody knows he can ball. When he has less around him, he's going to do more, and then he's at his best when that's, the team is set up like that.

"But in terms of his leadership, they don't give him credit because he doesn't wear leadership like everyone wants to see it ... dude is a beast but all that's happening because Harden is stirring that pot, just doing it with his point production."

The Clippers this season have had to deal with injuries to key players like two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. The departure of Paul George during the offseason to Philadelphia meant that James Harden had to step up both as a leader on and off the court.

Furthermore, his leadership this season has been praised by coach Tyronn Lue.

This season, he is averaging 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 39.0% from the field.

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James Harden makes history in loss to Dallas Mavericks

James Harden proved to his critics that he still has what it takes to lead the LA Clippers. In the game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, he passed Tim Duncan on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks - Source: Imagn

He was congratulated by his team in a post on X (formerly called Twitter).

"Congrats to @JHarden13 for moving to 16th on the all-time @NBA scoring list!"

Against the Mavericks, "The Beard" had 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the 113-97 loss.

The loss snapped their two-game winning streak, and they would hope to make amends when they travel to FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, to face the West's number two seed Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 23.