Team president Lawrence Frank was on hand to personally receive both players and guide them to the Clippers’ locker room.Notably, the ever-passionate Clippers owner, Steve Ballmer, couldn’t resist coming over to shake hands with Harden and Tucker as a gesture of goodwill and to display the excitement surrounding their arrival.
On Tuesday, Clippers head coach Ty Lue, along with star players Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook, refrained from offering comments on the trade until its official confirmation. However, Westbrook gave a subtle hint of his approval.
In response to inquiries, Westbrook, wearing a smile, emphasized, “Right now, James and P.J. are off-limits. I got nothing for you until it’s official.”
When pressed on whether his smile indicated happiness despite not being able to speak openly about the deal, Westbrook left no room for doubt, stating, “Yeah. I mean, [expletive], why wouldn’t I be? Yeah, excuse my language, but definitely, definitely happy.”
Preceding their matchup with the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, Westbrook and Harden enjoyed a reunion in the Clippers’ locker room. The two shared previous stints as teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets. Westbrook playfully informed Harden that he could remain on the other side of the locker room, where Harden’s new locker would be located.
As game time approached, Tucker and Harden took their seats near Westbrook and Paul George to catch up and reminisce, more than an hour before they hit the court to face the Magic.
Asked about his level of excitement by a reporter in the locker room, Harden couldn’t hide his enthusiasm, responding, “You don’t understand.”
Harden even added a musical touch to the moment, singing along to “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” by The Gap Band, which was playing in the nearby trainer’s room as he walked into the locker room.
While officially part of the Clippers, both Harden and Tucker are unlikely to see action in the game scheduled for Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Following Wednesday’s contest, the Clippers will enjoy a four-day break before embarking on a three-game road trip that begins against the New York Knicks next Monday. This break offers an opportunity for an expedited “training camp” of sorts for Harden and Tucker to get better acquainted with their new team and prepare for the journey ahead.