PHILADELPHIA — James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers added another wrinkle to their messy relationship when the team told the disgruntled guard to stay home instead of traveling for Thursday’s season opener against Milwaukee.
Harden, who issued an offseason trade demand, did not play in the preseason and skipped practice last week for what was officially called a personal matter before he showed up Wednesday at the team’s complex in Camden, New Jersey, ready to play.
Coach Nick Nurse said he was told Tuesday night that Harden had arrived in town. Nurse said Harden was involved in practice early and late but not in the game preparation part for the Bucks.
The opening matchup pits NBA MVP and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid against Milwaukee’s two-time NBA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $186 million extension this week with the Bucks.
“We have to get ready for our game tomorrow with the guys that are going to be playing,” Nurse told reporters. “He’s been gone 10 days, so we are in ramp-up phase again. He will stay here and get on-court work with our staff and with our players from the (G League) and our two-way guys and things like that and try and get him ramped up as soon as we can.”
Nurse said Harden was “fine” with the decision. Part of Harden’s complaint stems from his belief he should have earned a long-term contract with the Sixers after last season. It never came, thus he picked up the option on his contract for this season with the expectation the 76ers would trade him. That never materialized.
The 76ers play Saturday at Toronto, the team Nurse led to the 2019 NBA championship. Their home opener is Sunday against Portland.
Nurse, in his first season in Philly, declined to commit to Harden playing in any of those games.
DWIGHT HOWARD has denied accusations by a Georgia man who says he was sexually assaulted by the former NBA star and another person.
Stephen Harper filed a state civil suit against Howard in July, alleging assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In a response filed this week by his attorney, Howard described the 2021 encounter at his home in the Atlanta suburbs as consensual and requested that the case be dismissed.
Harper’s lawsuit says he met Howard through Instagram and they exchanged explicit text messages before arranging to meet at Howard’s home on July 19, 2021.
While on his way to the Gwinnett County residence, Harper says Howard texted him to ask if another man or woman could join their planned sexual encounter. Harper says he told Howard he was not interested.
Once at Howard’s home, Harper claims they were joined by a man dressed as a woman. Harper says he tried to resist the two men, but they forced him to participate in sexual activity.
SUNS: Phoenix was docked a 2024 second-round draft pick by the NBA after the league said the team violated league rules on the timing of this season’s free-agency discussions.
The league said the Suns engaged in free-agency discussions with forward Drew Eubanks before the date that talks were permitted. Eubanks eventually signed with the Suns.
The pick the Suns lost was originally Denver’s and was acquired from the Orlando Magic in a previous trade.
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