- Former coach describes James Harden as “good until he isn’t”
- Ongoing trade request means an uncertain future for no. 13
- Harden’s stock is at an all-time low after a mediocre season with 76ers
While James Harden may have the look of an NBA superstar on paper, his track record in the NBA is less than ideal for a guy with his level of talent. As one of Harden’s own former coaches recently pointed out, the guy isn’t always a star when you need him to be.
“As I was told by a source whose coached James Harden in the past that he was talking to another coach that coached James Harden and said, ‘Listen, James is good until he isn’t good,” said NBA insider Ohm Youngmisuk.
saet43wfewfcas pic.twitter.com/yiCti9e5zk
— James Burnes (@JamesBurnes8) September 5, 2023
Harden, 34, was once considered one of the top five players in the game. During his MVP season in 2018, James averaged a whopping 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game on 44% shooting.
But after forcing a trade from the Rockets in 2020, Harden’s numbers saw a dip across the board and he was never the same player again. To make matters worse for James, he struggled in the playoffs repeatedly and earned a reputation for being unreliable in the highest-pressure situations.
By the time he joined the Sixers in 2021, Harden was no longer considered an MVP-caliber player by the public and he struggled to maintain consistency in the 2023 postseason when the 76ers failed to advance past the second round.
Is James Harden A Franchise Destroyer?
More than any other star in the game, James Harden has weaponized player empowerment in an attempt to force his wishes. With the Rockets, he took drastic lengths to force their hand by visiting strip clubs during the season, wearing a fat suit to appear out of shape, and basically just being the biggest distraction that he could.
In Brooklyn, he gave up after less than a full season amid all the drama and chaos caused by Kyrie Irving. Despite specifically requesting a move to Brooklyn, James severed his ties with the organization before he was finally traded to the Nets in February.
Now, Harden is on his way out from the 76ers and it will mark his third breakup in just three seasons. At this point, the guy’s reputation will never fully recover unless he breaks the cycle and finds success on his next team.
How Will The Stalemate End For The 76ers?
76ers GM Daryl Morey has made it clear that he will not trade Harden for pennies on the dollar, but the options are running low across the board. Now, with his value at an all-time low, the task of trading Harden has become close to impossible.
This season, look for the 76ers to be aggressive in their quest to flip Harden for a worthwhile deal but it could take some time for a deal to materialize. In the meantime, Harden could make things ugly in the locker room just like he did in each of his previous stops.
Only time will tell how things play out for the 76ers, but it’s shaping up to be another wasted season for Joel Embiid, who has already tried (and failed) to make peace with his co-star.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
