Clippers' James Harden -- Can 'fit in with anybody' for title run - ESPN

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — James Harden said he sacrificed millions along with his playing style, which he said was «on a leash» during his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden said he tried to do what was needed to win in Philadelphia, but that the 76ers front office did not want him. Now with the Clippers, Harden is hopeful he can change some of the negative narratives surrounding him following rocky exits from Brooklyn and Philadelphia and prove that he is still an elite star who can fit in with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook and win a championship.

At his introductory news conference Thursday at the Clippers' facility, Harden described what he felt went wrong in Philadelphia.

«Taking $26 million less to sign and make the team better,» Harden said. «Changing my role, which media [felt] is ball dominant, which my ball dominance is really effective. But changing my role, trying to change the narrative, trying to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to win at the highest level. That's not talked about. It's the other BS.

»So me leaving Brooklyn and thinking I'm going to retire as a Sixer, and the front office had other plans. They didn't want me.… There's a lot of narratives and people think they have an opinion.… But none of that is true."

Harden went through his first workout as a Clipper on Thursday and remains on track to make his Clippers debut at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks on Monday. Clippers coach Ty Lue has a four-day break to use as a minicamp to integrate Harden and P.J. Tucker into his offense before they open a three-game road trip in New York.

Harden, who averaged 10 assists per game the past three seasons, hopes he can unleash his playing style under Lue. He said he