15 August 2023 , 20:42
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James Harden has been urged to turn his back on the NBA and head to China after a hugely frustrating summer for the 10-time All-Star.
Harden, 33, remains in an unhappy marriage with the Philadelphia 76ers after trade talks with the LA Clippers broke down and were abandoned last week. The former Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets standout was left outraged by the outcome, blasting the Sixers' head of basketball operations, Daryl Morey.
"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of," Harden said at an Adidas media event in China on Monday. "Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of."
Despite underwhelming performances in the big moments in the postseason a few months back, Harden has been surprisingly short of suitors this summer. A reunion with the Rockets appeared on the cards, but Harden's former team chose to acquire free agent point guard Fred VanVleet instead after he left the Toronto Raptors.
As a result, Harden exercised a $35.6m (£28m) player option in June that extended his contract through the 2023/24 season to provide a level of security in the form of a guaranteed salary. However, Harden remained intent on moving on.
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But after prolonged talks with the Clippers failed to conclude with a deal, Harden was on course to remain with the 76ers. His latest comments, though, surely make his place with the franchise untenable after blasting the man in charge of the team's operations.
James Harden has been left outraged with the 76ers' president Daryl Morey, calling him a "liar". (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)The future looks decidedly uncertain for the 2018 NBA MVP, with FOX Sports pundit Jason McIntyre urging Harden to turn his back on the NBA and head overseas, likening the situation to Lionel Messi, who signed for David Beckham's Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami over a move to Saudi Arabia, where he was offered a higher salary, due to lifestyle and family reasons.
McIntyre believes Harden will be happier in the Far East. He told The Volume: "I've got to wonder, if Harden is so dug-in, we noticed he made this big statement in China. Do you know who is one of the most popular players in China? James Harden.
"We just saw Lionel Messi turn down a billion dollars in Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi said 'I'll go to the MLS, I'll get a chunk of the team and the Apple profits. What if James Harden said 'I'm sick of this Daryl Morey c***. No teams want me, that's fine, I'll go where I'm loved. 'I thought Houston loved me'?
"They went after Fred VanVleet. Harden had been saying for months that's where he would love to go. So where does James Harden feel the love? The answer is China. Sometimes you've got to feel the love, man."