Harden and Leonard: Thoughts on the Basketball Value Behind Attendance Rate

In the story of the Clippers, there is a set of data that is like a dazzling light, illuminating various realities and contradictions in the basketball world. Since joining the Clippers in 2021, James Harden has become a frequent visitor to the team with an astonishing attendance rate of 92.1%; in sharp contrast, Kawhi Leonard's attendance rate during the same period was only 39.7%. This huge contrast is like a key, opening the door to many thoughts about player value, professional attitude and salary system in the basketball world.

Harden: The road to rectification behind tenacity

In November 2023, when Harden first entered Los Angeles, doubts from the outside came like a flood, and his professional attitude and physical condition became the target of public criticism. However, time is the best prover. Three seasons have passed, and Harden has shattered these doubts with actions. Except for injuries, back-to-back days off, and necessary personal matters, he almost never missed a game. Even if his body is in pain, he will choose to grit his teeth and step onto the field firmly.

So far this season, Harden has played in 13 games, while Leonard has only appeared in 6 times. What’s even more impressive is that Harden’s appearances with the Clippers in just two years have exceeded Leonard’s total in the past five seasons. Behind these statistics is the seriously underestimated persistence of a professional player. Harden is like a tireless warrior. No matter what difficulties and pressures he faces, he always does his best for the team. He uses his actual actions to rewrite people's perception of him.

Leonard: High salary in the shadow of injuries "Invisible Man"

Leonard's Clippers career seems to be a chronicle full of injuries. In the 21-22 season, he was reimbursed for the entire year and was nowhere to be seen on the field; in the 22-23 season, he missed 30 games; in the 23-24 season, he missed another 14 games; and this season has just started, he has already missed 8 games, and the team has not yet been able to give a specific timetable for his return.

In the past five years, Leonard has played only 163 games in total, averaging less than 33 games per season. However, injuries have not affected his income. His annual salary of more than 40 million US dollars is still steadily recorded, and there are even rumors of the so-called "yin and yang contract". This situation makes people question the fairness of the NBA salary system: How can a player who has been absent from the game for a long time enjoy such a high salary?

The pain of imbalance between value and price

Harden's salary this season is much lower than Leonard's, but on the court, his contribution far exceeds that of the latter. Whenever the game falls into a stalemate, Harden always steps forward time and time again, carries the team's offensive banner, and leads the team forward. Leonard, however, often wears casual clothes, sits on the sidelines and becomes an audience. This serious deviation between value and price has become an unspeakable pain in the Clippers locker room.

What is even more worrying is that this situation seems to be continuing. Leonard's injuries have gradually become the norm, while Harden's tenacity is taken for granted. This cognitive bias profoundly reflects the confusion in the modern NBA when evaluating player value. The team seems to be in a dilemma, investing a lot of money in Leonard, but it is difficult to get a corresponding return; and hard-working players like Harden who really contribute to the team cannot get a fair evaluation because of past stereotypes.

The essence of basketball is lost in the system's dilemma.

The dilemma faced by the Clippers' management is quite representative of the entire league. They spent a lot of money on Leonard, but failed to achieve the expected results, and Harden's efforts and dedication did not receive the recognition he deserved. This kind of value judgment that puts the cart before the horse not only hurts players like Harden who work hard for the team, but also reflects the flaws in the league's player management and value evaluation system.

In today's basketball world, the term "load management" is frequently mentioned, but while discussing this concept, we seem to have gradually forgotten the most essential thing in basketball - playing on the court. Harden used his actual actions to profoundly explain what true professionalism is. He never flinched and moved forward courageously for the honor of the team. And Leonard, under the care of the modern medical system, seems to have become a "hothouse flower", unable to withstand the wind and rain of the stadium.

Conclusion: The correct direction to explore the value of basketball

In this era of data-based heroes, attendance rate may be the most intuitive hard indicator to measure the value of a player. The story of Harden and Leonard is not only about the career ups and downs of the two stars, but also about the value orientation of the entire league.

When we feel sorry that Harden once again scored 28 points but failed to lead the team to victory, we should think more deeply: In this league full of commercial interests and various rules, why do real basketball fighters often not get the respect they deserve, while those "glass men" who frequently miss games due to injuries can receive maximum salary with peace of mind?

The future direction of the Clippers may be hidden in the answer to this question. For the entire NBA, how to re-examine and adjust the evaluation system of player value so that players with real strength and attitude can get the rewards they deserve is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. After all, the excitement of a basketball game is ultimately written by the players who work hard on the court.