After signing James Harden to a max extension, the Philadelphia 76ers have officially handed the keys of the franchise to their star-studded duo.
But as doubts pour in from all corners, team President and GM Daryl Morey found it necessary to issue the following statement in a show of support for his star players:
(via NBA):
“James Harden is one of the greatest players in NBA history and a future Hall of Famer. His mission is to win an NBA title and we’re thrilled that he will continue that journey here in Philadelphia. He is one of the best scorers and passers to ever play, and his knowledge of the game allows him to dissect defenses and make everyone around him better,” Morey said. “James’ commitment to winning continues to resonate throughout our organization, and I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible in his partnership with Joel and this talented roster. This is an exciting time for our franchise.”
For Harden, these past few years have not been kind. Since leaving the Rockets, he’s had to deal with turmoil in Brooklyn as his own game took a major nose dive.
But now, with a fresh start and clean slate, he’s hoping to leave all of that behind and find some success with a team that believes in him.
“This is where I want to be. This is where I want to win, and I think we have the pieces to accomplish that goal,” Harden said. “From my first day with the 76ers organization, the team and the fans have helped me feel at home here in Philadelphia. I’m excited to build off of last season and I can’t wait to get out on the court with the guys and start this journey.”
Harden, 32, still had a pretty impressive campaign, all things considered. In 2021-22, he averaged 22 points, 10.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game on 41% shooting.
He will join forces with Joel Embiid again with hopes of lifting Philly to a long playoff run. No matter how you feel about the pairing, they have more than enough talent and grit to shock the world.
