Former Sixers coach Doc Rivers explains what may have upset James Harden

In February 2022, James Harden forced his way out of the Brooklyn Nets to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Beard enjoyed a great start in the City of Brotherly Love, before another playoff collapse damaged his reputation again. The team decided to run things back, though, but only a year later, things got ugly. This offseason, Harden submitted a trade request out of Philly.

But why does the 34-year-old want out of the team he wanted to join less than two years ago? His relationship with the Sixers seemed to reach a point of no return when the team didn’t offer him a max extension, but according to Doc Rivers, Harden’s frustration started when he didn’t make the 2023 All-Star.

“I would say not making the All-Star team really bothered him,” Rivers said on the Dan Patrick Show. “And I thought that was egregious. You know, the coaches just didn’t put them on. You know, he was only leading the league in assists, he was having his best three point percentage shooting year of his career. He was averaging plus 20 and the coaches didn’t put him on the all star team.”

Before being snubbed last season, Harden was part of the All-Star weekend for 10 straight years between 2013 and 2022. But since then, he looked like a shell of himself. The Sixers missed Harden’s best version in the postseason, and despite his trade request, not many teams seemed to pick up the phone to get him.

James Harden

What’s next for James Harden?

Harden made it abundantly clear he desires to play elsewhere. Apart from letting the Sixers front office know about his intention, the veteran guard made his stance public by calling President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey a “liar” in the summer.

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Philadelphia, however, has taken its time to grant Harden’s wishes. The Los Angeles Clippers have been heavily linked with him during the offseason, but the 76ers were unwilling to lower their demands to make it happen.

A return to the Houston Rockets also seemed to be on the cards, yet nothing materialized. The Miami Heat, another team looking for an All-Star, were vaguely mentioned but they never looked like a realistic suitor. In the meantime, he remains under contract with the 76ers ahead of opening night against the Bucks.

James Harden returns to practice after 10-day absence

To be fair, Harden has been a true professional throughout this situation. The player reported to training camp, letting the Sixers handle things even though there were no signs of progress. He was out for 10 days, but he was excused by the team to handle a personal matter.

James Harden

On Wednesday, Harden returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ facilities for practice, just one day before the team starts the 2023-24 NBA season in Milwaukee. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse later addressed this situation with the media:

“He was in some of the stuff early. Obviously, we’re doing a lot of game prep stuff so he didn’t take part in much of that. It was a pretty short practice at that. So, he was in practice at the start, and he was there at the end, but we had to get ready for our game with the guys that are going to be playing.”

Nurse added that, despite Harden is already back with the team, he will not travel for the road game against the Bucks. The Sixers coach explained that since The Beard was out for 10 days, he’s in “ramp-up” phase once again.

Harden’s position, however, seems to be the same. The feeling is that the guard still wants to be traded, and his presence with the team is only to respect his current deal. Only time will tell whether he finally gets what he wants before February.