James Harden’s time with the Nets was transient, sophisticated and in the end a flop.
However the group was as a lot in charge as anybody, in line with Harden.
“I don’t imply to, like, simply down discuss to anyone or no matter. It was simply, there was no construction and even superstars, they want construction,” Harden mentioned in an interview with Fox Sports activities that happened 5 days earlier than the Nets fired Steve Nash and was printed Friday. “That’s what permits us to be the most effective gamers and leaders for our respective organizations.
“I simply really feel like internally, issues weren’t what I anticipated after I was making an attempt to get traded there. I believe everyone is aware of that. And I knew individuals have been going to speak and say, ‘You give up’ and all that stuff, however then the next summer season, the opposite famous person there [Kevin Durant] wished to depart. So it’s like: Am I nonetheless the quitter?”
After the Nets traded for Harden in January 2021 to kind what it figured could be a championship Large 3 with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the experiment began to dissolve.
Harden had hamstring points throughout the season and Irving was a part-time participant as a result of he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Durant was additionally bothered by what sort of form Harden was in and the 2 butted heads over it, sources informed Fox Sports activities. The Nets reached the Japanese Convention semifinals however misplaced to the eventual NBA champion Bucks.
“As soon as it received to a sure level, James was simply over all of it,” a Nets staffer informed the outlet.
Issues have been in fact even worse final season. The Large 3 performed simply 16 video games collectively earlier than Harden pressured his method out of city and was traded to the Sixers as a part of a blockbuster deal that introduced again Philadelphia’s personal disgruntled star Ben Simmons and Brooklyn was bounced within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Celtics.
In the meantime in Philly, Harden was roasted for taking simply two pictures within the second half of the Sixers’ listless Sport 6 loss to the Warmth within the Japanese Convention semis.
This season, the Nets and Sixers are fourth and fifth, respectively, within the standings, with Brooklyn holding a one recreation lead over Philadelphia after Irving’s buzzer-beater on Friday night time to beat the Raptors. Nonetheless, the query of what might’ve been will proceed to linger till one among them wins a championship.
“Who mentioned it didn’t work out?” Harden mentioned of his time with the Nets. “We simply didn’t have sufficient expertise. There have been higher groups than us. But when we had received, all the pieces would have been cool.”
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