James Harden is getting ready to face other playoffs, this time with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s trying to mesh with Joel Embiid and co., as they look for another chance to win it all this season.
The Beard arrived in Philly after another tumultuous exit from his prior team, keen to change the narrative about him and become a world champion with the exciting Sixers team. Although he’s already creating doubts about his level, Harden is confident he can get the job done at Wells Fargo Center.
The playoffs are a new beginning for everybody, but people still want to know about Harden’s tenure in Brooklyn. Talking with Complex, the 2018 NBA MVP reflected on his time with the Nets, admitting that it wasn’t the most ideal scenario. In the end, he did what was best for him.
Let’s talk Brooklyn for a second, how would you sum up your short stint in Brooklyn?
Uh, it was a lot of ups and downs. I appreciate the Nets and the city for what they’ve done for me in that year and a half. This is a business and for me, I think my happiness is the most important thing so I had to make the best decision for myself and for my family. But yea, I appreciated the time in Brooklyn.
He also talked about what could have happened if the Nets’ Big 3 was healthy and nobody missed games, explaining that you don’t win games with hypotheticals.
Do the “what if everyone was healthy” thoughts linger in your head?
Yea I think everybody thinks that. Everybody thinks about ‘what if, what if, what if’ but in reality, things don’t work off what if.
Harden is focused on the Sixers now, and their first challenge in the postseason will be a huge one. The surprising Toronto Raptors will try to beat them as they did in 2019, but this time, Harden and Embiid will try to go through Toronto’s defense. This is one of the most exciting duels of the postseason and the first step for Harden to make an impact on the league.