James Harden is ready for a long playoff run in his 1st season with the 76ers.
James Harden has arrived in Philadelphia and, for him, it was a move he was waiting to have happen for a while.
Harden was introduced to the media on Tuesday and told reporters that he had had his eye on playing for the 76ers dating back to the end of his Houston days.
“Originally, when I was going through everything I was going through in Houston, Philly was my first choice. It just didn’t happen,” Harden said. “I just knew for a very long time this was a perfect fit. You have the best big man in the league in Joel [Embiid] and obviously the coaching … from top to bottom it made sense. I’m just happy and blessed that I’m here.”
“Philly was my first choice.” – James Harden pic.twitter.com/1FCgbzFMvj
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 15, 2022
The trade that brought Harden to Philadelphia was consummated on Feb. 10, the NBA’s trade deadline. In the deal, the Sixers also acquired veteran forward Paul Millsap while the Brooklyn Nets got Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond as well as a 2022 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick.
Harden did not mince words about what he thinks he and Embiid can accomplish come playoff time. When asked if he thought they could lift the 76ers to a championship, Harden quickly responded mid-question with a “hell, yeah!”
Q: pairing you and Joel, do you see a championship being possible this year?
A: hell yeah. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/yKJgcrYim0
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 15, 2022
Harden’s trade from Brooklyn to Philadelphia ended the teaming of superstars of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving after they played just 16 games — only two this season.
Additionally, Harden has been ruled out through the All-Star break because of a left hamstring injury. He was replaced in the All-Star Game — where he was a member of Team LeBron (Embiid is on Team Durant) — by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen.
In Philadelphia, Harden says he sees himself trying to fit into the mix and success the 76ers have enjoyed. After a 10-10 start, the Sixers have found their rhythm and are 34-22, ranking fourth in the Eastern Conference. The opportunity to move up the standings is there, though, as Philadelphia trails the No. 3-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers by 1/2 game. It is two games behind the No. 2-seeded Chicago Bulls and 2 1/2 games behind the No. 1-seeded Miami Heat.
“Joel does everything on the floor. You’ve got guys on our team that are very smart,” Harden said. “Listen here: They have something great already going on. I’m just here to contribute.”
James Harden on meshing with the Sixers: “They have something great already going on. I’m just here to contribute.” pic.twitter.com/HzEKf8OeEz
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 15, 2022
The 76ers are getting an MVP-worthy year out of Embiid, and team President Daryl Morey — who was in the front office with Houston when Harden played for the Rockets — made the deadline deal to ensure the Sixers have plenty for the championship push.
Embiid leads the league in scoring with 29.5 points and has scored at least 25 points in 30 straight games. The pressure was on in Philly not to waste a season of his prime. Morey made the trade while holding on to Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle, two young core players the Sixers believe can help snag them the top spot in the East whom Morey said Tuesday the team made “big priorities” to keep in any potential Harden trades.
In a 100-87 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday — a day after the trade was made — the 76ers gave a tease of Harden’s impending arrival with a flipbook-style video of his career that ended with a shot of The Beard superimposed in a No. 1 jersey. Sixers fans gave the clip a roaring standing ovation.
The already electric atmosphere in Philadelphia created by Embiid’s presence and nightly “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants is going to ramp up even more once Harden takes the court sometime after the All-Star break.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.