Author: Chandra Moulee Das
With the Philadelphia 76ers preparing to face the Brooklyn Nets in the 2023 NBA playoffs, James Harden reflected on why he left Brooklyn. Harden was a member of the Brooklyn Nets before joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
During his time with the team, there were several problems off the court that were compounded by problems on the court with his teammates and coaches. The team’s lack of consistency and success was a significant factor that led Harden to request a trade.
Harden said: “A lot of internal things were happening and that was one of the reasons I made my decision. And everyone badmouthed me and gave me negative feedback … But now that we’ve moved on, they say ‘OK, James was smart.“
Notably, Kyrie Irving’s refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19 resulted in him playing only 29 games last season, and only a few with Durant and Harden. During Harden’s time in Brooklyn (January 2021 to February 2022), the trio played only 16 games together due to various factors, such as Durant’s injury and Harden’s departure.
During his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving encountered problems getting vaccinated against COVID-19. As a result, he played just 29 games last season and had limited opportunities to play alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden. Durant suffered an injury in January, while Harden left the team the following month.
Despite the star-studded line-up, the trio only appeared in 16 games together during Harden’s time with the Nets (January 2021 to February 2022). The team’s potential was never fully realized, as the players became increasingly frustrated with the situation. Fortunately for Harden, he found a better opportunity with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are now in contention for the league title.
Harden’s first full season with the 76ers has already yielded impressive results. He formed a remarkable duo with Joel Embiid, who has dominated the league since the start of the 2022-23 season. In retrospect, his time with the Nets was almost insignificant compared to his current success.