Kyrie Irving defends James Harden by firing back at ESPN’s ‘disgruntled’ claim
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Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving is coming to the protection of James Harden, his former Brooklyn Nets teammate.
In a video making the rounds Monday on X (previously often called Twitter), Harden rocked the NBA world when he called Daryl Morey, the 76ers president of basketball operations, a “liar” whereas at a latest press occasion in China with Adidas basketball.
It got here shortly after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that the Sixers ended trade talks involving Harden — and then called the point guard a “disgruntled” star in a separate put up on X.
Irving referred to as out Wojnarowski in a reply tweet on Monday and appeared to take subject with the NBA insider describing the previous MVP as being “disgruntled” over the state of affairs.
“Is he Disgruntled Adrian??” Irving wrote. “Or is he holding Daryl Morey accountable for his dishonesty and lack of transparency all through the contract negotiation course of this summer season?”
Wojnarowski has but to handle Irving’s feedback as of Monday.
Irving has had his fair proportion of public issues through the years and beforehand acquired the “disgruntled” therapy as he pressured his means out of Brooklyn.
After being traded to the Mavericks in February, Irving stated he felt “actually needed” by his new workforce, versus feeling “very disrespected” at occasions throughout his four-year tenure with the Nets.
Harden’s state of affairs may’ve been a stark reminder of that point for Irving.
Harden took purpose at Morey, according to Sports Illustrated, when somebody on the press occasion requested: “What do you consider the present workforce claiming to finish commerce talks and attempting to convey you again to the workforce?”
Harden, who requested a commerce out of Philadelphia in June, referred to as Morey a “liar” two occasions as the group oohed and aahed in a video posted by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I’ll by no means be part of a company that he’s part of,” Harden stated.
“Let me say that once more: Daryl Morey is a liar and I’ll by no means be part of a company that he’s part of.”
Harden, 33, is sad with Morey over the dearth of a long-term max contract provide, according to Wojnarowski — who reported that the Sixers plan to convey the 10-time All-Star again to coaching camp for the beginning of the season.
Harden took a $15 million pay cut in July 2022 and declined his $47.4 million participant possibility with the 76ers to signal a $33 million deal for the 2022-23 marketing campaign.
Rumblings of a rift between Harden and Morey swirled in June when the purpose guard picked up the $35.6 million participant possibility on the final yr of his contract, on the way in which to his commerce request.
The 76ers had some conversations with the Los Angeles Clippers, Harden’s desired vacation spot, however a deal by no means materialized, sources informed ESPN — including Philadelphia’s asking value was steep and no groups, together with the Clippers, had been prepared or capable of meet it.
“The 76ers actually haven’t had any curiosity in buying and selling James Harden,” Wojnarowski stated on “NBA Right now” on Monday. “They’ll’t get worth for him again that continues to permit them to be a contender. They basically pulled him off the market.”
Wojnarowski stated Monday that Harden’s objective is to make the Sixers so uncomfortable that they determine they’ll’t convey him again and commerce him in a deal they finally received’t need.
“This has been escalating behind the scenes all yr,” Wojnarowski stated. “Now it’s enjoying out in public.”
The Sixers are reportedly decided to co-exist with Harden by the beginning of coaching camp in September.
Harden has tried to pressure his means off his third workforce in three years.
He landed in Philly as a part of the blockbuster deal that despatched level guard Ben Simmons to the Nets in February 2022, following Simmons’ summer season standoff with the Sixers in 2021.
Harden grew to become a star underneath Morey throughout eight seasons along with the Houston Rockets.
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