James Harden, who has requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, wasn’t happy that he wasn’t voted as an All-Star last season, according to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. The 2017-18 MVP had the opportunity to be picked as an injury replacement, but he didn’t get back to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in time.
“The first hint that Harden’s ‘sacrifice’ wasn’t being appreciated, much less rewarded in the way he hoped, came in late January when he wasn’t voted to be an All-Star,” Shelburne wrote. “Harden, who had made 10 consecutive All-Star games, was dismayed at the snub, sources said. It didn’t help that his former Nets teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had both been voted in as starters by the fans, media and players, while Harden was a distant fourth among Eastern Conference guards behind Irving, Donovan Mitchell and Jaylen Brown.
“Still, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was prepared to name him as an injury replacement, sources said. Harden just had to give assurances that he would show up and play in the game. Days went by without Harden’s answer. He was pouting. By the time Harden sent word that he would accept the invitation, Silver had moved on, naming Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam as the replacement for an injured Durant.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Last season was the first time since 2011-12 Harden didn’t make an All-Star team. The veteran guard finished the campaign averaging 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists. Harden led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
Harden wants the Sixers to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, Philadelphia doesn’t have to honor the trade request since Harden doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. The Sixers expect Harden to report to training camp this month, but the NBA legend doesn’t plan to come, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
A future Hall of Famer, Harden has career averages of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. He turned 34 on August 26.
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