James Harden with his new head coach Doc Rivers in a press conference "Photo Courtesy The Morning Call, Ed Barkowitz"
The second half of the NBA season resumed this weekend after last weekend's All-Star break. However, in the second half of the season, some NBA fans will be seeing fresh faces on their favorite team because of trades. One of the biggest trades was between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets traded star James Harden for the 76ers Ben Simmons. Along with James Harden, The Nets also traded Paul Millsap and got Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two future first round picks from the 76ers in return. This trade shocked the league.
James Harden’s goal for his entire career has been to win an NBA Championship. However, Harden’s career has been filled with ups and downs, and he continues to find himself chasing the NBA title. In 2012, while playing for the Oklahoma Thunder, his team came close, but lost the NBA finals in five games to the Miami Heat. In the 2017-18 season when he played for the Houston Rockets, his team was up 3 games to 2 against the Golden State Warriors. However, the Rockets lost games 6 and 7, and Harden’s dream of a championship did not happen. The mindset of winning a championship with Houston fell apart when Head Coach, Mike D’Antoni was fired, General Manager Daryl Morey stepped down, and teammate Russell Wesbrook was traded.
After 9 years with the Houston Rockets and so many disappointments, Harden requested to be traded. Going to New York to play for the Brooklyn Nets seemed like the perfect team he could win the championship he wanted so badly with. Harden would play alongside his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant and his 2016 USA Olympic teammate Kyrie Irving. This trio or big 3 as they were called was considered the three greatest shooters the league has seen in the 2010s. However due to injuries the big 3 only played 15 games together in the 2021-2022 season. The Brooklyn Nets were eliminated in the second round of the NBA Playoffs after losing Game 7 to the Milwaukee Bucks who ended up winning their first NBA Championship since 1971. Harden’s dream of winning the championship seemed to be turning into a long nightmare.
In the 2021 offseason, Harden did not sign or have any discussions about a contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets. General Manager Sean Marks' focus before the season started was to resign Harden, but Harden told reporters he would test out free agency, and said he was not going anywhere. The Nets season started off shaky as big 3 member Kyrie Irving was sidelined due to not getting the Covid vaccination. As for Harden and Durant, they would play most of the first half of the season together racking up win after win while Irving was out. However, Harden’s playing was not as electric as he was in the past. One game he would score 30 points, the next it would be 20, and then 15. His new role was at point guard, making him the playmaker and involving teammates. This role seemed to frustrate his playing and many people thought he could not dominate as he once did. However, Harden was able to improve resulting in him being selected for his tenth all-star game.
After three months of being sidelined, Kyrie Irving returned, and the Brooklyn Nets had their point guard back. It seemed as if Harden’s reality of a championship could happen. However, things started to fall apart for the team when Kevin Durant could not play due to a sprained MCL in his left knee. The Nets would go on a 10-game losing streak. This losing streak caused Harden to realize he no longer wanted to play for the Nets. He demanded to be traded on the day of the NBA trade deadline.
After the trade to the Philadelphia 76ers was completed, rumors swirled that Harden left the Nets because of Kyrie Irving's lack of commitment to the team. Irving denied the report saying that “the media are Puppets, that are being controlled.” The same day Harden was traded, Team Lebron and Team Durant made their 2022 All Star Game player selections live on television. When Kevin Durant refused to choose James Harden to be on his team, it became obvious that Harden’s departure to the 76ers did not sit well with his former teammate.
Harden’s time in Brooklyn was disappointing for him as well as for the fans. What was supposed to be the best big 3s in NBA history and a title for the Brooklyn Nets is remembered as one of the worst big 3s of all time. Harden, Durant, and Irving only played 16 games together out of 113 games. The trio combination failed and all we saw were injuries, off-the-court issues, and most importantly trust issues around the locker room compromised. Harden left the Nets with his goal to win the NBA championship unfulfilled.
James Harden made his 76ers debut this weekend. He is healthy and has the drive to win. He will be playing alongside MVP contender Joel Embiid with a team that will play hard every night and have a mindset to win. He will also be reunited with Daryl Morey. The 76ers are in full championship mode. Philadelphia fans are passionate and will help fuel the team’s energy. It will be fun to watch. Harden’s goal is to win a championship title. Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, may be the fresh start for James Harden’s career.
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