As James Harden lined up in front of the camera, alongside NBA legends, he became the subject of a joke that went viral on Twitter.
When he was asked if he could move “a little bit” to his left, someone in the crowd of icons joked that it was his go-to move.
your other left, @JHarden13! 😂#NBA75 | #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/0c2biri5A9
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 21, 2022
As, perhaps, one of the NBA’s greatest left-handed players, the opportunity was too perfect not to make that joke, and it was clearly effective in generating a few laughs from the crowd.
All-in-all, it has been an interesting year for the Beard. After starting off the season with title aspirations in Brooklyn, chaos unfolded that led to his departure months later.
Kyrie Irving was away from the team due to his vaccination status, Kevin Durant was nursing an injury, and the Nets kept losing games they should have won.
Eventually, he forced himself to Philadelphia and into a fresh start with Joel Embiid. So far, relations have been ideal.
“The rhetoric coming out of Brooklyn would lead you to believe James Harden was a bad teammate at the end of his tenure,” said a Sixers Insider, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. “But the rhetoric coming from the 76ers is the complete opposite. They’ll tell you that Harden has been a welcome addition and positive influence on his teammates. Early on, he’s been a leader despite being sidelined while rehabilitating a left hamstring strain. At his suggestion, Harden accompanied the Sixers here to Wisconsin for Thursday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, the final matchup before the All-Star break. The point guard’s debut could be on Feb. 25 at the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Sixers’ first game after the break.”
Over the next few weeks and months, all eyes will be on Harden, and nothing short of his reputation will be on the line if things don’t work in Philly.
It’s a good thing he got that break on All-Star weekend, and the chance to share a laugh with some of the game’s top players.
Once he takes the court again in a few days, the pressure will be on.
