Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will play Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in the first game of the 2023-24 NBA regular season. What is not known, however, is whether or not 10-time All-Star James Harden will be suiting up to face the Bucks. The three-time scoring champ, who has played for three teams in the last four seasons, is carrying on a dramatic standoff with Philadelphia that went to the next level on Monday.
Harden made it known early in the offseason that he wanted the 76ers to trade him. After Philadelphia was unable to find a suitable trade partner, they made known their intentions to keep him. This did not sit well with the 2018 NBA MVP.
James Harden Refuses to Play for the Philadelphia 76ers While Daryl Morey Is Involved
Even though he had already expressed a desire not to return to Philadelphia, Harden picked up his 2023-24 player option worth $35.6 million with the understanding that the 76ers would trade him. After no trade partners were found that would give Philadelphia the return they were looking for, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said they would be retaining Harden.
In other words, Harden just could have declined his player option and become a free agent. For some reason, he decided against this course of action. Now that a trade is off the table, Harden is going to do anything he can to force his way out of Philadelphia.
When speaking to a group of children while on an Adidas marketing tour in China, Harden stated that he will never play for a team for which Daryl Morey is working:
James Harden: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” pic.twitter.com/AmHJ0WwbF2
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2023
Yikes.
The Milwaukee Bucks Are Fortunate to Have Giannis Antetokounmpo
Despite constant pressure and influences from outside the NBA’s smallest market, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has always maintained his loyalty to the organization that drafted him. On multiple occasions, he has reiterated his desire to spend the entirety of his career with Milwaukee.
There are not many players like that anymore. Most recent examples include Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) and Kobe Bryant (Lakers). That is not to say that there is anything wrong with superstars going to play elsewhere. LeBron James has switched teams numerous times. Michael Jordan played two seasons with the Washington Wizards. Shaquille O’Neal became a journeyman center in the later days of his career.
There are, however, several differences between those players and what is happening in the NBA right now. Harden, Kevin Durant, and even LeBron to an extent, are constantly attempting to team up with other NBA superstars. It takes the competitiveness out of regular season competition and rarely results in NBA championships for the stars.
And then there is Giannis, who has rejected invitations to even workout with other NBA stars in the offseason because he wants to maintain a competitive edge over them. While the media and out-of-market fans focus on Giannis’ upcoming free agency (in two years), he is getting ready to run it back with the Bucks.
Will there come a day that Giannis leaves Milwaukee? It could, but it is not coming any time soon. The Bucks will always pay Giannis what he’s worth, and the organization is committed to building long-term success around him.
The two sides have made mutual commitments to each other and, so far, both are holding up their respective ends of the bargain. In a ruthless business like the NBA, that is rare.
Bucks fans are lucky.
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1 Comment
Harden, like the even worse Russell Westbrook, doesn’t understand winning basketball and is a stat hunter who puts up hollow numbers because of his lack of D (and Russ makes no effort on D either, despite elite athleticism, and is a terrible shooter and turnover machine, which is not what a PG should do).
Bucks are very lucky to have never had this locker room cancer on their team. I would actually stop watching if they traded for him, and it was only Giannis that brought me back after barely paying attention to the team after they traded Ray Allen (and no, Redd and any others were not worth watching from 2000-2015).