‘Defensively, he’s a nightmare:’ How EJ Harkless is pursuing a pro career with defense at the forefront
Elijah Harkless is carving out a role in the NBA as a great defender with the LA Clippers Summer League team.
LAS VEGAS — EJ Harkless sat in a defensive stance in front of Brooklyn Nets point guard Mark Armstrong. With every step the offensive player took, Harkless mirrored him like a shadow.
Zylan Cheathem from the Nets set a screen to free up his point guard from the shackles of Harkless, but as Cheathem tried to cut to the basket, Harkless pestered him all the way down to the basket. Cheathem shoved Harkless off, causing an offensive foul. The LA Clippers’ bench erupted in claps and cheers.
Harkless is a member of the Clippers 2024 Summer League roster. The 6-foot-3 guard has made his presence felt on an undefeated Clippers team in year’s NBA Summer League. The team is coached by former player and defensive specialist Dahntay Jones.
“I’m trying to implement a style of play that will keep all those guys employed for years to come,” Jones said. “Most of our guys will be in a supporting role. If you can play that hard and support that, you have an opportunity to play in this league.”
Harkless is the definition of a player who plays with grit and tenacity. Originally from San Bernardino, he’s carved out a role of being a hard-nosed defender. He played under David Kleckner at Etiwanda High School, who made his own playing and coaching career off of defense.
Harkless is trying to work his way into the NBA. He played for the Ontario Clippers in the 2023-2024 season where he played in seven games. Once the G-League season ended, he signed with the Saskatchewan Rattlers in the Canadian Elite Basketball League where he averaged 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and 1.8 steals per game.
According to his agent Harrison Gaines of Slash Sports and Entertainment, Harkless is still looking for opportunities to play next season.
“EJ has a defensive skill that is underrated in our game,” Jones said. “He picked up and guarded a bunch of different positions, but his ball pressure is what dictated how we played in the first half.”
Harkless didn’t field many college offers out of high school. He committed to Cal State Northridge where he led the Big West conference in steals with 1.7 per game in his sophomore season. In 2020, he transferred to the University of Oklahoma where he averaged 1.9 steals per game as a starter.
For his final season of college basketball in 2022-2023, Harkless transferred to UNLV. In 32 games played, he recorded a steal in 28 of them.
“He turns people, gets in front and he competes,” Jones said. “He’s nasty because his disposition is what you want of a defender.”
Harkless says he got his defensive acumen from trying to play pickup basketball with the older players growing up.
“You got to play defense,” Harkless said. “You got to rebound. You got to do all the little stuff. You can’t come out shooting the ball at first. You got to do the little stuff to get on the court.”
When Harkless attended Etiwanda High School, he said Kleckner held the team accountable from the moment they come into the program. Not only did he emphasize defense to Harkless and his teammates, but he also focused on their grades, classes and their lives.
“When we get into basketball, it’s the same thing,” Harkless said. “Just depend on your brother behind you and always talking and playing defense. You can always win with defense. Offense will come and go but defense you can do that every single night.”
Throughout his career, Harkless has continued to improve on the offensive end. So far in Summer League, Harkless has knocked down 38.5% of his 3-pointers through three games. He’s showed flashes of an ability to attack closeouts and make plays for teammates. In order to stick in the NBA, Harkless will need to prove himself as shooter and facilitator.
“Guys like that who can knock shots down and can guard multiple positions, they can play a long time in our league,” Jones said. Jones added that Harkless needs to improve decision-making but noted he’s been doing a “good job in Summer League.“
He already takes shots and knocks shots down,” Jones said. “Defensively, he’s just a nightmare when he gets on your point guard or main scorer.”
Two plays after Harkless drew the foul, he once again picked up the Nets’ Armstrong in the backcourt. He turned Armstrong from sideline to sideline as the ball handler tried to get past Harkless. Once Armstrong passed the halfcourt line, Harkless’ arms started to poke at the ball.
As the offensive player tried to cross the ball over from left to right, Harkless stuck his arm and body in-between and knocked the ball free. The Clippers bench stood up again as Harkless battled for the ball on the ground.
“Just a fight man,” Harkless said about the play, “Going out there and making another positive. That’s the goal every single time.”