According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the LA Clippers went to James Harden before signing Chris Paul, and despite the fact that the two players didn’t get along too well on the Houston Rockets, he is okay with the move. And the fact that Harden and the Clippers clearly have such a solid relationship is enough to make Philadelphia 76ers fans at least a little annoyed.
“Look, there had to be an understanding with James Harden,” Windhorst said. “He and James Harden didn’t have the greatest relationship when they were in Houston a few years ago, but Harden is on board with this signing. They went to him with it first. He understands that he played the fifth most minutes in the league last year and anything the Clippers can do to support and protect him is welcomed and that’s what this move is.”
With the way Harden’s tenure in Philadelphia ended, it’s hard to imagine Sixers fans being too pleased that he’s now buddy-buddy with his new team.
What happened with James Harden and 76ers?
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN wrote a massive feature story on what went down between Harden and the 76ers, cataloging all of the little messes that eventually led to a divorce between the two sides.
From arguments with Doc Rivers to disappointment over not making the All-Star team, Harden’s time in Philadelphia included a ton of bumps along the way. But none more significant than the downfall of his relationship with Daryl Morey.
When Harden was due for an extension, Morey wasn’t returning his camp’s calls, and the star guard felt as though he was being ghosted, as noted by Shelburne. So, he picked up his player option. From that point forward, his time with the Sixers was pretty much set in stone.
How is James Harden’s relationship with Clippers?
Well, based on the fact that he’s willing to put aside any potential differences with Paul, Harden’s relationship with the Clippers seems to be worlds ahead of where it was with the Sixers.
But not only was Harden willing to accept that—the Clippers went to him in the first place. They didn’t wait for his camp to call and reveal Harden’s thoughts. LA checked in with him before making any official moves.
Those sorts of things go a long way in cultivating the relationship between a star player and a team.
And while the 76ers are in a pretty decent spot now, regarding their backcourt (Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe), it still must be frustrating to see how willing to adapt Harden is in LA vs. the way things went down in Philly.