“Nobody should give a f**k” – James Harden’s strip club addiction nothing to worry about, claims former teammate

Unveiling the true impact of James Harden's strip club addiction on his gameplay.

“Nobody should give a f**k” – James Harden’s strip club addiction nothing to worry about, claims former teammate

Trevor Ariza and James Harden were pretty close as teammates during their time together with the Houston Rockets (Associated Press)

James Harden, a prominent figure in the NBA, has been as much in the news for his off-court activities as for his on-court achievements. His well-documented visits to high-class strip clubs have sparked debates about his commitment to professional basketball. However, a different perspective comes from his former teammate, Trevor Ariza, who sheds light on a side of Harden that the public rarely sees.

Ariza, who played alongside Harden with the Houston Rockets from 2014 to 2018, offered a candid view of Harden’s work ethic during his appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast. Contrary to the public perception, Ariza highlighted Harden’s dedication to the game.

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Trevor Ariza had this to say about Los Angeles Clippers’ superstar James Harden on the Club Shay Shay podcast:

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What people don’t know is that James will work his a** off. After practice, he is running sprints. Before practice, he is shooting. He is lifting weights after games. What he doing in his personal life that is up to him. Nobody should give a f**k about that. If it comes a time where he feels like he wants to make a change, that’s on him too.

This insight from Ariza suggests that Harden’s off-court life, including his visits to strip clubs, should not overshadow his commitment and performance as an athlete. It presents the viewpoint that personal choices are separate from professional responsibilities. He also emphasizes on the autonomy of the individual in making lifestyle choices.

James Harden’s strip club addiction isn’t helping his case

Kendrick Perkins, another former teammate of Harden from his time on the Oklahoma City Thunder, also commented on Harden’s lifestyle. Speaking on the “All The Smoke” podcast, Perkins pointed out Harden’s “strip-club hopping” during the 2012 NBA Finals, which some believed affected his performance.

James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers have been struggling to perform consistently (Associated Press)

The discussion around Harden’s lifestyle choices, as presented by Ariza and Perkins, opens up a broader conversation about the balance between an athlete’s personal and professional life. It challenges the notion that off-court activities necessarily have a direct impact on on-court performance.

Still, James Harden’s downfall is way too apparent to overlook. The Clippers have lost 8 of their 13 games since he joined the roster, which even features other superstars like Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Although the numbers he’s putting up are decent (15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals) they are nowhere in comparison to his prime.

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