James Harden has been fined $100,000 for publicly demanding to be traded by way of feedback that included ripping the Philadelphia 76ers’ Daryl Morey as “a liar,” the NBA introduced Tuesday.
The 10-time All-Star requested for a commerce in June, the identical month he picked up his $35.6 million possibility for the 2023-24 season. But a deal by no means occurred, and ESPN reported this month that the 76ers have been ending commerce discussions for the 33-year-old guard.
Harden then expressed his displeasure with Morey, the 76ers’ president of basketball operations, throughout an Aug. 14 occasion for Adidas in China.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden mentioned on the time. “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.”
Harden shared an identical sentiment in an interview that Houston’s KHOU 11 printed Aug. 17, saying “I think so” when requested if his state of affairs in Philadelphia was past restore.
The NBA cited Harden’s Aug. 14 and Aug. 17 feedback in its determination to wonderful him.
“The league’s investigation, which included an interview of Harden, confirmed that these comments referenced Harden’s belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request to be traded,” the NBA mentioned in its announcement.
Morey was the overall supervisor of the Houston Rockets from 2007 to 2020. Harden performed with Houston from 2012 to 2021.
The Nets traded for Harden in 2021, teaming him up with fellow All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The trio solely performed 16 video games collectively, nevertheless, earlier than the Nets traded the disgruntled Harden to Philadelphia in a mid-season deal that introduced again Ben Simmons.
Philadelphia went 54-28 and completed third within the Eastern Conference throughout Harden’s first full season there in 2022-23. The group has not superior previous the second spherical in both postseason since Harden joined, regardless of boasting a roster that additionally contains Joel Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP.
Harden averaged 21 factors and 10.7 assists per sport final season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com