It is well known that NBA superstars have astronomical contracts that leave them with enough financial freedom to secure a comfortable life for themselves and their families, while also treating their teammates to dinner and gifts here and there.
Ivica Zubac , until recently the center of the Los Angeles Clippers , revealed which of all the teammates he has ever shared a locker room with was the most generous in that regard. Someone who, in a way, does not save on those gatherings and someone who cares about a good atmosphere inside the team.
"Probably James Harden . Yes, Harden for sure," Zubac said in a recent interview with X&O's Chat podcast.
"He loves the team environment; he loves when everyone is together. Going out to dinners, hanging out, all of that. He is always the one initiating things, that's really important to him," he added.
Zubac singled out James Harden as the teammate who puts a high priority on all off-the-court gatherings, and that does not come as a surprise. Throughout his career, Harden has often been under criticism because of his sometimes extravagant lifestyle, frequently seen in different clubs and at times not in his physical prime.
However, although Zubac did not go into the details of their treatment and dinners, it is clear that Harden, already a veteran player and future Hall of Famer, knows a thing or two about keeping a good vibe inside the locker room.
The Croatian big man has played with a couple of big names in his career, including LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard , but "The Beard" still takes the No. 1 spot on this list of his. Harden, according to Zu, knows how to balance practices and games with a healthy dose of winding down during the grueling 82-game regular season schedule. And that's all that matters.
"A lot of these stars that I've played with weren't like that. It's more just practice, games, and that's it. Bye. But off the court, it really matters to him…" concluded Big Zu while saying that he just got a text from Harden to go and play some cards with him.
Although Harden and Zubac undoubtedly had a connection both on the court, where we saw the 7-foot center become one of the most consistent big men in the league today and a walking 15-and-10 guy, and off the court as well, it is interesting to mention that both guys were dealt from the Clippers by the end of this year's trade deadline.
Harden went to the Cleveland Cavaliers , where he will have a legitimate chance to redeem himself for all of his playoff lapses and make some noise out in the East, where everything is wide open, while Zubac will look for his place under the sun with the Indiana Pacers . Although the Pacers are this season in the hunt for the top three pick in this year's draft, next season could be completely different.
As we will be watching both of these guys take a different path in their careers, one thing is certain: Harden will always make sure the guys around him feel like a team, not just teammates, no matter where he is.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
