76ers fans are finally happy now that James Harden and his loser mentality is out of Philly, but the Sixers are wrapped up in an NBA investigation showing Harden’s woes continue to plague this team even though he’s been traded to the LA Clippers. The NBA is investigating the 76ers and James Harden to see if they violated the player participation policy back on opening night when the Sixers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, as reported on ESPN.
The rumors are that Harden wanted to travel to Milwaukee and Toronto for the road trip, but the Sixers were not convinced Harden was ready to play – basing their judgement on his physical condition since he was away from the team for so long – about 10 days. But really, I personally think someone higher up on the team just didn’t want him there because, much like Ben Simmons was, James Harden had become a distraction with his “me, me, me” attitude – not to mention his lack of ‘DOG’ mentality that Philly athletes NEED to have or they get booed out of town.
The ESPN report on the NBA’s investigation into James Harden and the Sixers said:
“We are looking into the facts around James Harden’s availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation,” league spokesperson Michael Bass told ESPN before the 76ers’ 118-117 loss in Milwaukee.
Harden had wanted to travel to Milwaukee and Toronto on the team’s opening road trip, but the Sixers didn’t believe he was physically prepared to play after spending so much time away from the team, sources said. Beyond his 10-day absence from the team, Harden’s lone preseason scrimmage was Oct. 7 in Boston, which further clouded his readiness to make his season debut, sources said.
The NBA’s player participation policy allows teams and players an out for injury, personal reasons and “rare and unusual circumstances.” A team could be fined $100,000 for a first offense, with increasing penalties thereafter.
If you want my opinion, I think the Sixers were gearing up for the trade well before this and simply didn’t want Harden with the team. Why put the guy on a plane and let him travel with the team if he’s not going to play. And to be honest, I don’t think the Sixers were going to let him play with a trade looming.
Why risk him getting injured and the trade potentially falling through. It wouldn’t be worth it and basketball fans surely understand you shouldn’t play a guy right before a trade is about to happen. Not worth the risk and losing out on the chance of getting this guy outta town.
The only people who are sad about James Harden leaving Philly are probably the strippers. And why does James Harden have three phones?
James Harden and PJ Tucker arrives in LA
(? @joeylinn_) pic.twitter.com/wYDCmm1PXR
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 1, 2023
Photo: screenshot from embedded video
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