James Harden comes into the 2022-23 campaign looking to prove a lot of naysayers wrong. The Beard’s reception around the League after a controversial last two seasons where he forced his way out of Houston and Brooklyn. Harden is reportedly aware that people perceive him as a selfish player because of those trade demands.
As the starting point guard of a 76ers team looking to feed MVP candidate Joel Embiid and as the mentor of a rising star in Tyrese Maxey, Harden will have a chance to dispel those misconceptions while looking to make Philly a championship contender. On Monday, Harden told The Athletic that he hadn’t been given the proper credit for taking a $14 million pay cut so that the 76ers could build a title-threat roster around him and Embiid.
“Nope, but guess what? I don’t care,” Harden said when asked, shaking his head for emphasis. “There’s like a stereotype (of Harden) where people always want to talk. People don’t really know me, so they feel like they can just say anything. One thing I won’t do is give them any attention. I won’t say anything, media-wise, publicly. I don’t care because I’m comfortable, and I’m confident in the things I do on and off the court.”
what’s @JHarden13 listening to?
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 10, 2022
wrong answers only! | @SociosUSA pic.twitter.com/jOhQZVr3fj
what’s @JHarden13 listening to?
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 10, 2022
wrong answers only! | @SociosUSA pic.twitter.com/jOhQZVr3fj
Harden called his new contract “the right decision not only for myself but our organization, giving us a really good chance of putting the right pieces together.” The 2018 MVP can opt out next summer and look for a bigger payday with the Sixers or leave.
Last season, Harden averaged 22.0 points (lowest since his third year in the League), 7.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game on 41.0 percent shooting from the field and 33.0 percent from deep, the worse of his career. His dip in scoring led to Embiid saying that this current version of Harden is “more of a playmaker.”
“You do things, handle business on the court and off the court, and the money will always come back,” Harden said. “So, I’m fortunate and blessed to be in the position I am, and I’ll just continue to be me.”
top of the 🔑 three. pic.twitter.com/UHQKSIqv75
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 11, 2022
Coming off a rough regular-season and postseason, Harden’s choice to take a pay cut helped Philly acquire P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. to their bench. The 76ers are now a deep team with a dangerous lineup headlined by Harden, Embiid, Maxey, and Tobias Harris. Embiid will be looking to exercise his MVP demons this season and could make a compelling case after losing the reward to back-to-back MVP winner Nikola Jokic.
“That’s what we’re going through right now,” said Harden, who finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes against Cleveland. “The world knows how dominant Joel is, how versatile Joel is, and I’m playing with a sense of not even scoring but making guys better, making guys’ jobs a lot easier. That’s what I’m here for, whether it’s Joel or Tyrese or Tobias or anybody on our team.”
The 76ers will open the season with a road game against the Boston Celtics.
