James Harden Reveals His Only Goal for the Clippers 2025-26 NBA Season

James Harden may go down in history as one of the greatest basketball players to never win an NBA championship. He’s won the MVP, scoring titles, and countless All-NBA and All-Star selections. His career has been amazing. 

However, there is one thing missing: the coveted NBA championship ring. Only one team wins every year, and there aren’t that many players who have been closer than James Harden.

Harden had an NBA Finals appearance with the Oklahoma City Thunder early in his career, but he and the Thunder ran into a prime LeBron James. Then there were his Houston years. Multiple Western Conference Finals appearances, only to fall short to the buzzsaw of the Golden State Warriors dynasty. 

Though he’s been close and failed, Harden is still pursuing that championship. During the Los Angeles Clippers media day, Harden revealed his one goal for this season.

“It’s no secret… I’ve accomplished everything in this game individually. It’s no secret what we’re trying to accomplish here… So many teams in this league, it’s like, ‘We’re trying to win a championship.’ There’s only a handful that has a real opportunity… You gotta be good enough and you gotta be healthy. Those are the two things. We’re both of those right now.”

Harden and the Clippers are one of the many Western Conference hopefuls for next season. There are at least six teams that believe they can contend for an NBA championship next year in the West, and the Clippers are one of them. 

Harden’s chances of getting that first ring hinge on the Clippers' ability to stay healthy this season. They are one of the oldest teams in the NBA, and will be relying on some past-their-prime NBA veterans to find a way to turn back the clock. It’s highly unlikely everything will fall into place for Harden, but at least his eyes are still on the prize.