NBA: LA Clippers' James Harden opens up on acrimonious split from Philadelphia 76ers after Daryl Morey rift
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Updated 04/12/2023 at 21:25 GMT
After years of working alongside Daryl Morey, James Harden called the Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations a "liar", which led to the breakdown of their relationship. After claiming to have been promised a big-money max contract, but not seeing it come to fruition, Harden pushed for a move away from the club and now plays for the LA Clippers.
James Harden
Image credit: Getty Images
James Harden has opened up on his acrimonious split from the Philadelphia 76ers and how his “marriage” to 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey ended after he backtracked on the promise of a max contract.
After months of feuding, Harden was eventually traded to the LA Clippers - who have endured a mixed season so far in the NBA’s Western Conference with nine wins and ten defeats.
Harden’s relationship with Morey goes back a long way. They first worked together with the Houston Rockets, before Morey later ensured Harden followed him to Philadelphia.
However, things between the pair soured and came to a head in August when Harden publicly called Morey a “liar”, when the promise of a big-money deal disappeared.
Speaking to The Athletic and reflecting on the situation, Harden admits what once was a strong relationship with Morey turned unpleasant very quickly.
“It surprised the hell out of me, you know what I mean? I looked at it like a marriage. We talked about a lot of s***. And we’ve got a lot of s*** that, in front of people’s eyes, you don’t know or understand.
“But instead of [Morey] having a conversation with me [about free agency] or saying, ‘All right James, we don’t want to offer you this, but we have this.’ Then we go back and forth, and that’s a dialogue. But you just ice me out? Then it’s like, you don’t respect me as much as I thought you did.
“You don’t need people like that, you know what I mean? So it’s just bad karma. People were throwing dirt on my name, but the good guys always win.”
Recalling the moment when he realised he would need to force a move away from Philadelphia, Harden said: “A week or two after we lose in the play-offs, it would be all about trying to figure out how to improve the team.
“And that’s been going on for 10-plus years, you know what I mean? And then this year, there was no communication. And at that point, it’s like, ‘OK, I see what’s going on.’ I’m very intelligent. So then I just figure out ‘What’s my next move, and what do I want to do?’
“So I understand that, at the end of the day, this is a business. And just like he has to do what’s best for his organisation, I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family. It’s as simple as that.”
Now with the Clippers, Harden has revealed the reasons behind why a move to Los Angeles was his preference.
“It was about trying to get to a situation where I could get paid and obviously have a chance to win at the highest level,” he said.
"These last few years, I sacrificed so much — whether it’s role, whether it’s financial — that, at this point, it’s over with. I just want to be able to move forward and still have the opportunity to make some money and obviously win at the highest level.”
Despite having his sights on the future, is there a chance of Harden mending his ‘marriage’ with Morey?
“There’s too much money, too much respect [lost] and too much loyalty on my end to even double back. There’s nothing to talk about. There’s nothing to talk about. This is real money.”
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