The National Basketball Association (NBA) has imposed a $100,000 fine on Philadelphia 76ers superstar James Harden for publicly threatening not to play for his team anymore, as reported by RMC Sport.
On August 14th, James Harden announced his decision not to play for the Sixers as long as Daryl Morey remained associated with the team. These statements were made during a promotional event in China, during which Harden also referred to the team’s president as a “liar.” These statements evidently did not sit well with the NBA, which decided to penalize the player.
James Harden is thus fined $100,000 for his remarks suggesting that he “would not perform the services called for under his contract” if he was not traded to another team. As a reminder, the Sixers and the former NBA MVP find themselves in a delicate contractual situation. Harden expressed to the media that Morey had reneged on his initial promise to trade him quickly during the offseason. “I’ve been patient all summer,” he regretted, shortly after making these statements in China.
James Harden joined the Philadelphia team in February 2022 after playing for Brooklyn. The Sixers had pinned their hopes on the arrival of the 33-year-old player, hoping it would benefit their quest for the NBA title. Unfortunately, despite the team’s efforts led by the excellent Joel Embiid, they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals in the previous two seasons.
