Kawhi Leonard’s New Year’s Request For James Harden

Kawhi Leonard jokingly tells James Harden to stop getting food in his beard after a 45-point night and Clippers’ hot streak.
Kawhi Leonard’s New Year’s Request For James Harden
  • Kawhi Leonard joked during a game intermission that teammate James Harden should stop getting food in his beard.
  • The clip played at the Intuit Dome and was later shared on Twitter by Joey Linn.
  • Leonard poured in 45 points in a 118-101 win over the Utah Jazz as the Clippers extended their winning streak to six.
  • Over the past six games Leonard is averaging 39 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists on efficient shooting.

H2: Leonard’s playful New Year’s resolution

Kawhi Leonard used a light moment to tease James Harden during a recent Los Angeles Clippers game. A video played during Thursday’s intermission at the Intuit Dome showed Leonard offering a tongue-in-cheek New Year’s resolution for his teammate: “I want to see if he could eat food without getting it in his beard.” The clip was shared on Twitter by sports reporter Joey Linn: https://twitter.com/joeylinn_/status/2006947640148361363

H3: The moment and reaction

The comment landed as a playful jab, and it drew laughs from fans in attendance. The jab highlights the chemistry inside the Clippers’ locker room during a run that has suddenly flipped the team’s season. Rather than a focused media moment or serious critique, Leonard’s line was a simple, humanizing laugh amid a stretch of dominant play.

H2: Leonard’s on-court dominance

Leonard has been one of the hottest players in the NBA recently. In a 118-101 win over the Utah Jazz, he scored 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting, helping the Clippers secure their sixth straight win. Over the past six games he’s averaged roughly 39 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting at an efficient clip — a stat line that has pushed him back into MVP conversations.

H3: Why the timing matters

Coming off an injury-plagued stretch earlier in his career, Leonard’s current level of play represents a dramatic and encouraging turnaround. The Clippers began the 2025–26 season slowly, but Leonard’s recent form has helped spark a run that has given the team renewed momentum and raised expectations heading toward the All-Star break and the trade deadline.

H4: Where Harden fits in

James Harden, who shares ball-handling and playmaking duties, remains an important part of the Clippers’ roster. Leonard’s joke underscores the familiar, lighthearted moments teammates share off the court — a reminder that even elite players find room for humor during long seasons.

H5: Watch the clip

Watch the short intermission clip on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeylinn_/status/2006947640148361363

Short, playful moments like this give fans a glimpse of the personalities behind the game while Leonard’s play keeps the Clippers in the headlines. As the team rides its six-game win streak, both performance and locker-room chemistry look to be on the rise.

Image Referance: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/clippers-kawhi-leonard-hilarious-resolution-061925416.html

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