James Harden seems to be trying to shed off his old skin by firing shots at his former Brooklyn Nets teammate, Kevin Durant. Having played for the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets, and currently for the Philadelphia 76ers, “funny guy” Harden recently attempted to take off a tag that has been associated with him for a long time.
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He wanted to offload the “quitter” tag, as he pointed out about the “other superstar” who also expressed his desire to leave much later. Harden said, “So, it’s like, am I still the quitter?“. The other superstar he was referencing to being Kevin Durant.
It seems fans have not taken kindly to his claim. They compared both James Harden and Kevin Durant and claimed that the difference between the two was in fact, that KD still plays for the Brooklyn Nets. One user tweeted, “He [James Harden] is a two time in season quitter“.
Here are some reactions from NBA Twitter:
He is a two time in season quitter. Yep he quit on the team.
— Maliika Walker (@maliikawalker) December 16, 2022
LOL 😂 Harden is a funny guy. https://t.co/6X9COJOWN8
— A Washed Kang (@AnthonyCanton_3) December 17, 2022
But he stayed…and you left 2 teams in the span of a year lol
— Bruin (@Bruin4Gaza) December 16, 2022
Well two wrongs don’t make a right, also you are the only star who left. So yes that would make you a quitter.
— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) December 16, 2022
Big difference @JHarden13 KD issues was with coaching and roster construction and when he was on the court he still gave 100%. You literally quit mid game came into the season outta shape if you were the superstar you claim to be you & KD leading the nets should of been enough 🤷🏾♂️
— 💎Shizz💎 (@RoundTablehoopz) December 16, 2022
@JHarden13 difference is KD is still here and hooping while you pulled the ultimate soft move and forced your second trade in the span of a year. KD actually spoke his frustrations and made the team better while you cried like a baby, drank your smoothies, and left
— Anthony (@acg89) December 16, 2022
Yes, u are still a quitter
— Caveman (@JayFirstAccount) December 16, 2022
Just because someone else is a quitter too doesn’t make you not one
— Jay💎 (@DubsFanJay) December 16, 2022
Durant had wanted to leave the Nets?during the off-season and also decided to request a trade before the regular season commenced. KD spoke about his motives and pinned them down to the Nets having lost several games.
“I think a lot of stuff was getting swept under the rug because we are injured or this guy’s not around or just the circumstances”, Durant added. This seems to be in parallel with Harden’s decision to leave the Nets as well. Notably, the Nets have been on a terrific winning streak lately, winning five consecutive games.
James Harden’s tumultuous journey to the 76ers
James Harden initially had a long tenure with the Houston Rockets before making an arguably ugly exit from the franchise. It was reported that Harden demanded a trade, just like he did with the Brooklyn Nets. According to Harden, the Nets franchise lacked “structure and even superstars“.
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USA Today via Reuters
Dec 11, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) controls the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
He has been struggling to keep healthy recently, which has already cost him several games so far this season. The Philadelphia 76ers star returned to the lineup after a month-long hiatus due to a right foot injury.
Harden said that he knew when he took the decision, he would be subjected to backlash. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski had reported that the NBA star was hesitant to ask for a trade from the Nets fearing “public backlash”.
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Watch This Story: James Harden, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Other NBA Stars Who Have Played in the Drew League
What do you think about James Harden’s statements? Do you think he is a quitter? Let us know in the comments below.
