PHILADELPHIA — Earlier than LA Clippers level guard James Harden was set to do his pregame warmup at Wells Fargo Middle, he emerged from the coaching room and into the guests locker room to see longtime teammate P.J. Tucker holding courtroom with the media. Harden had his headphones on, however he nodded as Tucker was addressing the assembled group one locker over as if to acknowledge that he knew what this was all about.
Tucker was included within the November commerce that introduced himself and Harden to the Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers. In fact, Tucker was requested about what he anticipated Harden’s reception in Philadelphia to be like.
“Hey, I don’t know,” Tucker stated with a wry smile. “I don’t count on it to be too fairly. Will probably be fascinating.”
Some 76ers followers shared Harden’s ambivalence towards his return sport in Philadelphia, the place he performed 102 video games from February 2022 via the 2023 postseason. Some didn’t like how Harden went about leaving but additionally didn’t really feel as strongly about holding him on the town both, particularly contemplating the type of contract he was searching for.
However the metropolis of Philadelphia doesn’t want a purpose to boo you. Harden nonetheless provided these causes, opting into the ultimate yr of his contract for the 2023-24 season and demanding to be traded, with the Clippers outlined as a most popular vacation spot. WIP-FM, the flagship sports activities speak radio station in Philadelphia, was very happy to steer the morning’s dialogue on ensuring Harden was serenaded accordingly.
James Harden on the response he’ll get tonight in his return to Philadelphia:
“I don’t know and I don’t care. We’ve got greater issues than me nervous about Philadelphia.”
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) March 27, 2024
Harden emerged onto the courtroom to undergo his pregame routine, pointing each index fingers to the sky as he hit the ground. Earlier than Harden received to the Clippers’ finish, he stopped by injured 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton and 76ers assistant coach Rico Hines, greeting each with joyful embraces. Harden was teammates with Melton final season, and he has recognized Los Angeles legend Hines for years.
As Harden labored on his contested pull-ups and pick-and-roll prep, followers who made it to their seats an hour earlier than the opening tip had their cameras out to seize the moments. For layup strains, Harden labored out with Clippers head power and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro whereas the Kendrick Lamar verse from “Like That” boomed via the audio system.
The boos have been teased throughout the introduction of beginning lineups. Longtime 76ers public tackle announcer Matt Wire sometimes runs via the visiting beginning 5 shortly, pausing simply lengthy sufficient for the Philadelphia crowd to chant “sucks!” after every title. Harden was launched as the primary participant, proper after Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue.
Matt Wire goes via beginning lineups for guests so quick that there’s no time to boo. Normally followers simply hear the starter and say “SUCKS”
With that stated
Philadelphia greets James Harden and the LA Clippers (bonus bell content material!!!) pic.twitter.com/uIFWsXcnSV
— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 27, 2024
As soon as the sport began, although? Philadelphia let Harden have it. Taking pictures guard Terance Mann inbounded the ball to Harden after Kyle Lowry hit a 3 on the primary 76ers possession. As soon as Harden introduced the ball into the frontcourt, Wire’s announcement of Lowry’s basket and Kelly Oubre Jr.’s help light, and the boos turned up.
Philadelphia’s cohesion was on level as effectively. As quickly as Harden gave up the ball to Kawhi Leonard, the boos ceased within the area. After Leonard missed his shot, the house crowd cheered Mo Bamba’s defensive rebound.
Boos meter turned approach up for James pic.twitter.com/mdrSt2KOoq
— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 27, 2024
The opening quarter of the sport featured a few missed 3s from Harden, in addition to a fast-break layup that pressured a Philadelphia timeout. Usually, that’s the chance for a participant returning to play within the metropolis of their earlier workforce to get some type of tribute video or different acknowledgment. The Clippers feted present 76ers Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and KJ Martin on Sunday in L.A. with a brief mixture tribute video. Harden and Tucker received a welcome-back slideshow that was seen within the guests locker room, however there was nothing of the type on the video board throughout the sport.
However there have been jeers! One fan yelled out, “James! The place you going subsequent yr?” When Harden’s former teammate Tyrese Maxey fouled Harden via a 4-point-play alternative, Maxey helped Harden up.
“I used to be telling him, after I fouled him, I didn’t need to attempt to damage him,” Maxey stated after the sport. “And he was like, ‘No, you tried to harm me!’ No, by no means bro, by no means attempt to damage you, man.”
When Harden stepped as much as the road to finish the 4-point play, although, he missed it. That was the primary time Harden was cheered all evening.
Harden’s first free throw try of the evening… and he misses it to satisfaction of crowd pic.twitter.com/8zHk2bE2Rw
— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 28, 2024
However Harden is used to this. He was booed in his unique NBA location, Oklahoma Metropolis. Harden wasn’t booed forcefully in Houston, the place he was the 2018 MVP, however there have been some murmurs greater than there have been appreciations. Harden performed his second sport with the Clippers again in November in Brooklyn, and he was booed there. Harden took all of it in stride then, and he did once more Wednesday evening.
What made it simpler for Harden to embrace the reception was the ultimate end result, with the Clippers overcoming a 15-point first-half deficit to flee Philadelphia with a controversial 108-107 win. It was the second time in three seasons that the Clippers stole a double-digit comeback win on the street in opposition to the 76ers. Harden completed with 16 factors, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, and just one turnover to go along with a steal and a block in a team-high 38:33. After the sport, Harden was requested in regards to the cascade of boos that finally decreased in frequency within the second half, as soon as it was clear the Clippers have been going to compete.
“I anticipated it,” Harden stated. “They don’t know what it was about. However I anticipated it. So it’s what it’s. I don’t even know why they have been booing, I don’t suppose. You ask them. They in all probability don’t know why they have been booing.”
Harden has stated he made sacrifices to assist the 76ers when he was there, describing how he took much less cash within the 2022 offseason and performed a lesser position than he’s used to whereas sharing the ground with 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid. Those self same sacrifices boomeranged right into a lack of belief within the group led by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.
“For me, personally, I really feel like I did all the things I wanted to do within the sense of, within the yr prior, taking myself off of the max to assist the workforce get higher,” Harden stated. “For this metropolis, what I imply? And for myself, clearly. However to win a championship. So issues didn’t work out. I wished to receives a commission. They weren’t speaking. So it’s what it’s. You progress on, all people’s joyful, life is sweet. And I imply, all people’s trying ahead.”
His trying ahead won’t embrace Morey. When requested if he sees a day when he may patch issues up with Morey, Harden stated no.
“Hell no,” Harden stated dismissively.
He additionally shared that he doesn’t have a relationship with Embiid and hasn’t saved in contact with him. Even after two video games in opposition to Philadelphia this season, Harden stated he has not watched the 76ers. Harden has lengthy embraced the town, even earlier than he was a 76ers participant. As a San Francisco 49ers fan, he would hit again at Dallas Cowboys followers in favor of the Eagles. He attended a number of Eagles video games. Harden has been associates with Philly rapper Meek Mill for years. He had former teammates he was joyful to see, equivalent to Maxey.
“I’m very, very happy with him,” Harden stated of Maxey, a first-time All-Star this season. “He’ll proceed to get higher, proceed to develop. And he’ll be an issue for a really very long time on this league.”
Tyrese Maxey on his reference to James Harden and why they keep related pic.twitter.com/1TQuzEZnhr
— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 28, 2024
Harden additionally had the backing of his teammates, particularly fellow future Corridor of Famers who’ve needed to return to outdated locales over time. Paul George, who had the cease on the finish of the sport on Oubre, stated the Clippers didn’t must have conversations about Harden’s return to Philadelphia. They knew they needed to be Harden’s help system.
“We’ve all gone via it,” George stated. “It’s all the time bittersweet. And it’s all the time going to be dangerous blood when a participant decides to play elsewhere. So yeah, that was his resolution. And we received his again, via the method. And we have been capable of come out and play.”
The 76ers have been the final of the opposite 29 NBA groups the Clippers performed this season. That is the final of the 4 journeys to the Jap time zone the Clippers will take this season. Now that it’s over, Harden can transfer forward together with his predominant aim in thoughts, to assist the Clippers — and himself — win an elusive championship. However he’s appreciative of being in Philadelphia. Even with the boos.
not a ball hog, like to see ma dawgs ball #Uno pic.twitter.com/7yG27lTMlv
— James Harden (@JHarden13) March 28, 2024
“I’m grateful for these relationships, I’m grateful for the chance and issues like that,” Harden stated earlier than he left Wells Fargo Middle together with his workforce of associates and associates to exit into the wet evening. “These issues that I can cherish and transfer on with. Every little thing else? It doesn’t matter.”
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(Picture of James Harden and Tyrese Maxey: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Photos)