It’s finally signed and sealed, Stephen Curry is staying in the Bay Area for at least the end of the 2025/26 season. And the price for his undying loyalty to the Warriors? A record-setting $62.6 million, making history in US sports. No one’s likely going to make more than that in the season. However, details revealed by an NBA insider indicate, there was an opportunity to top that. James Harden had that opportunity.

The Beard signed a $70 million 2-year deal with the Clippers this offseason. A major reason for the move was Paul George’s exit and Kawhi Leonard’s fitness. But James Harden could’ve signed for more, easily making a name for himself in the history books before Curry did so.

During the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, Brian Windhorst dropped the bombshell. According to the ESPN reporter, the former Rockets star could’ve made $60 million this year alone. “The amount of money that Harden has turned down one thing I can say for sure is that he had offers on the table to be making, I think, over $60,000,000 this year with if you go all the way back to the Brooklyn Nets,” Windhorst told his co-hosts.

This leaves Curry at the top of the pile who’ll be earning the most for the 2025/26 season with Damian Lillard set to eclipse that in the 2026/27 season in Milwaukee. His teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lakers’ Anthony Davis will also cross the $63 million mark for their 2027/28 figures with Jaylen Brown topping all of them but not before the 2028/29 season.

Harden’s exit from the Sixers following his much-publicized beef with Daryl Morey landed him with the Clippers last season, but the former MVP looked a shadow of his past self. So putting a $60 million deal on the table for him can be hard to imagine for some, but that’s something Harden would’ve hoped for. But what’s expected of him, exactly? Ty Lue had the answer to that.

Ty Lue sets a target for James Harden and Co. for next season

Clippers coach Ty Lue spent his offseason in the Team USA camp sharpening his skills alongside Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra. After Paul George moved to the Eastern Conference and Russell Westbrook joined the Nuggets, the Clippers now look light in firepower and that’s where the challenge lies.

In an interview with Ohm Youngmisuk, Lue revealed the biggest challenge for his side next season. “When you lose a guy of Paul George’s stature, instantly people [think] oh, they can’t win or they’re not going to be competitive. But that just challenges me even more. OK, people are counting us out or people don’t think we’re going to be good,” Lue said. “That right there just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can’t wait to prove everybody wrong.”

Harden will be among the key figures in anything good the Clippers do next season. His chances of scoring 30+ for 30 games in a row may have dwindled in 2024, but Harden’s ability to pick a pass and catch-and-shoot still makes him a viable backcourt asset. Will we see some Harden magic again? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.