James Harden hasn’t been the same since leaving the Houston Rockets back in 2020. In Texas, he was one of the players in basketball and played like one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
His stints in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, however, have been less than ideal for the 10x All-Star. Really, Harden hasn’t been himself for the past two years now, and many fans are wondering if his best days on the court have already passed.
But for those fans, they might be encouraged to hear that ‘the beard’ seems to be really ramping up his summer workouts. In a report by Shams Charania, multiple sources confirmed that Harden has gotten a head start on his training and conditioning for next season.
Multiple sources said Harden returned to his workout and on-court regimen much sooner than usual this offseason, and has been ramping up his conditioning and training as the summer progresses. Typically, NBA players take time off before entering their offseason schedule, but Harden returned to his training just two weeks after the season ended on May 12. 76ers assistant Sam Cassell has spent extensive time running Harden’s regimen this summer, sources said.
Report: “Multiple sources said (James) Harden returned to his workout and on-court regimen much sooner than usual this offseason, and has been ramping up his conditioning and training as the summer progresses.” 💪💪💪
(via @ShamsCharania, https://t.co/iyQjIFzKz5) pic.twitter.com/KHpO24RoWN
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 29, 2022
Shams also reported that James has shown nothing but loyalty and commitment to the Sixers organization, and has already told them he plans to do everything he can to help them win a title, even if it means taking a pay cut.
Harden made the decision in recent weeks and communicated a clear goal to 76ers officials: winning a championship in Philadelphia next season. Harden opting out and taking less opens up a path for the 76ers to make legitimate upgrades for their roster for the upcoming season, beginning Thursday night when the free-agency period opens.
Harden, 32, could be the guy who finally helps Joel Embiid and the 76ers win a championship. He’s got the talent, experience, and intelligence to make things work.
Sadly, we have yet to see his best since becoming a Sixer and nobody really knows why. But if his offseason activity is an indicator of anything, it’s that we shouldn’t give up on Harden just yet. If he puts enough work in, it could be all he needs to return to his superstar form — and that is the best possible scenario for the 76ers.
