James Harden requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this offseason, as he expressed his desire to play for the Los Angeles Clippers.
But months later, the Harden trade saga has yet to reach its conclusion.
If anything, the situation has gotten even more complicated.
Harden was missing for the majority of training camp due to a personal matter.
The 10x NBA All-Star reportedly returned to the team, but he was absent from the 76ers’ season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA legend and analyst Charles Barkley shared his reaction to Harden’s antics via NBA on TNT on Twitter.
“You just can’t take time off because you’re unhappy you ain’t getting traded,” Barkley said.
“You just can’t take time off because you’re unhappy you ain’t getting traded.”
Chuck on the James Harden and 76ers situation pic.twitter.com/gzAQWiXALT
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 26, 2023
Over the last few years, Harden has built a reputation for abandoning his team when the going gets tough.
When he initially forced his way out of the Houston Rockets, most fans gave him a pass as he had been loyal to the franchise for nine seasons.
But the way he managed his exit from the Brooklyn Nets and attempted exit from the 76ers is certainly unacceptable.
As Barkley said, a player cannot simply take time off due to their trade request not being fulfilled.
Harden and the 76ers are currently at a stalemate, with neither side planning to budge away from their demands anytime soon.
If the trade saga drags on much longer, Harden will be the one who suffers the most.
Harden will get imposed with multiple fines on top of his reputation in the NBA community being dragged through the mud.
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