James Harden thinks he might be the best teammate Kawhi Leonard has had during his NBA career, despite the two superstars maintaining a professional distance off the court. Harden told ESPN that sharing a locker room has created a unique bond with the notoriously private Leonard.
The revelation comes as Leonard and Harden have helped revive the Los Angeles Clippers after a disastrous 6-21 start. The duo have formed one of the most effective attacking partnerships in the league during the team’s recent strong rise.
Harden acknowledged that the relationship remains unconventional by NBA standards. Neither player has visited the other’s home in Los Angeles, illustrating Leonard’s preference for maintaining boundaries with teammates.
“I’m still trying to crack the code,” Harden told ESPN.
However, Harden believes their shared experiences and understanding have created a bond that Leonard has never experienced with teammates. The former MVP pointed to their daily closeness in the locker room as a key factor.
“By sharing lockers next to him, I think I’m getting the most out of him,” Harden said. “To be honest, I don’t even know, maybe I’ve gotten the most out of him since he’s been in the league.”
Coach Tyronn Lue credited both superstars for leading the Clippers’ remarkable turnaround. According to ESPN Research, Harden and Leonard’s offensive rating ranks eighth among the 146 two-man pairings that have played at least 700 minutes together this season. The duo ranks fourth among all duos not on the Denver Nuggets.
Harden described Leonard’s lifestyle as completely focused on optimizing energy for meaningful playoff basketball. The veteran guard has observed Leonard’s meticulous approach to nutrition, recovery and training.
Leonard eschews sugary drinks and maintains strict dietary habits. Last season, he famously removed Gatorade bottles from a lectern at the post-game press conference, telling reporters that children should not consume such drinks.
In October, Leonard hosted 30 local high school students at the Intuit Dome for a mindfulness event that included yoga and meditation. He demonstrated techniques that he believes help manage physical ailments.
“If you practice this every day,” Leonard told the students as he demonstrated a yoga pose, “those aches and pains will go away.”
Harden expressed his admiration for Leonard’s mental toughness after multiple injury setbacks. According to the 10-time All-Star, few players would possess the determination to continually bounce back from such challenges.
“Most people wouldn’t have the mental capacity to keep coming back [from injury] like he did, they would have just given up,” Harden said. “But he keeps going.”
Leonard’s recovery methods include premium alkaline water from Austrian brand Hallstein, which retails for $71 per six-pack. He prefers naturally alkaline water served warm with lime juice, a practice that dates back to his tenure with the San Antonio Spurs.
“That’s the best water on earth,” Leonard told ESPN. “It’s naturally alkaline. They don’t do anything to make it alkaline. And it comes in glass bottles, so there’s no plastic or bad stuff in it.”
Harden continues to learn about his teammate’s unique personality and habits. He believes Leonard’s mysterious nature is authentic rather than calculated.
“I learn something new every day with him,” Harden said. ‘I don’t even know if he’s trying [mysterious] on purpose. I just think he is. Some people are just off the grid and don’t want people to know them on purpose.”
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