James Harden reports back to Sixers a day before season opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
On the day before the Sixers’ regular-season opener, James Harden has reported back to the Sixers.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark confirmed the report.
Harden had been away from the Sixers because of a personal matter, a team official said last week. He hadn’t been practiced with the team since Oct. 15.
Two days prior, the 34-year-old spoke to reporters for the first time this season, addressing his trade request and fractured relationship with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. Harden said he would “try to play” the Sixers’ preseason finale, but he wound up appearing in zero preseason games.
New Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Monday that he’d recently texted Harden “just seeing how he’s doing, seeing if he’s all right, and he did text me back.” Nurse said the two didn’t cover whether Harden would ultimately return to the Sixers.
Harden is not expected to play in the Sixers’ regular-season opener Thursday night against the Bucks, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported.
As Nurse discussed Tuesday, the Sixers’ starting five without Harden appears likely to be Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker and Joel Embiid.
Whatever’s next in the Harden saga, the Sixers will try to focus on starting 1-0.
“I think everybody understands that we have a job to do and we’re here to win,” Embiid said Monday night following the Sixers’ preseason win over the Hawks. “The moment that we’re not on the same page, then that becomes a problem. But I think everybody’s on the same page.
“The goal is to try to win, no matter who’s here. We’re just here to work and trying to get better every single day. … That’s all I care about, is winning. What does it take to win? What’s going to get me there and who’s going to help me? That’s all I care about.”
This is a developing story. More to come.
