In the aftermath of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant’s blockbuster trades, a former member of these Brooklyn Nets groups is talking out and making an attempt to clear his identify of any wrongdoing. James Harden was a part of the large three for Brooklyn that was a Durant massive toe away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals within the 2021 playoffs. One yr later, Harden compelled his manner out of Brooklyn, touchdown in Philly, and was lambasted for it. A yr after the 76ers commerce, Harden is throwing his fingers up, saying, “look, you can’t blame me.”
“I don’t look like the crazy one. I don’t look like the guy or the quitter… I knew what was going on, and I just decided I’m not built for this. I don’t want to deal with that. I want to play basketball and have fun.”
Now that it’s all fallen aside in Brooklyn, Harden comes out and may play the function of the great man. Obviously, he heard what followers, media, and even some gamers have been saying after he abruptly bounced on KD and Kyrie on the commerce deadline simply 12 months in the past. Harden makes use of the ‘q’ phrase relating to that state of affairs, and it was thrown round fairly a bit following his exit.
Not his first rodeo
At the time, Nets gamers weren’t too comfortable concerning the state of affairs, even when they’d deny it now. Whether or not anybody believes Harden give up on Brooklyn, one factor that can’t be denied is that this wasn’t the primary time he’s been accused of this. Does anybody bear in mind Houston? The manner this former MVP’s tenure ended with the Rockets wasn’t precisely dealt with with grace.
G/O Media might get a fee
Ask John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins concerning the state of affairs in Houston within the last days of Harden’s run. Neither one in all them was comfortable about how Harden left and threw everybody besides normal supervisor Daryl Morey underneath the bus and backed over ‘em on his way out.
Suddenly, because things broke down entirely in Brooklyn, now Harden wants to paint himself as the good guy. Yes, there were issues inside the Nets organization, and some still linger. But Harden went there to supposedly play with Durant again, forming a big three with him and Irving in their attempt to win a title. We all have opinions about Durant and Irving, but at least they can say they tried to make it work. There’s been a ton of drama, little doubt, however Kyrie and KD didn’t depart after one yr.
Durant and Irving requested trades, and Harden now thinks that places them on the identical stage. Timing performs a big function on this, as they have been in Brooklyn for a number of years, whereas Harden barely lasted 12 months with the workforce. If it’s dysfunctional, that’s comprehensible. But don’t come again after the very fact performing like Mr. Perfect within the state of affairs, particularly if you did one thing related with one other workforce. Harden would’ve been higher off not responding and letting the fallout communicate for itself.