James Harden wished to be with the Philadelphia 76ers for the crew’s season-opener on the highway towards the Milwaukee Bucks. Harden, who had been away from the crew for 10 days in what the group is asking an excused absence, made a shock look at apply on Wednesday. If Harden thought he was going to be with the crew in Milwaukee, he was improper.

When Harden confirmed up the airport to board the crew airplane together with his teammates, a crew official turned him away, in line with TNT’s Chris Haynes. Normal supervisor Elton Model and head coach Nick Nurse then gave Harden the information that they wished him conducting particular person exercises on the crew facility to gauge his conditioning stage.

Right here’s Haynes’ full report from simply earlier than the Sixers and Bucks squared-off within the season opener for each golf equipment on Thursday evening.

Harden was upset on the prospect of being turned away, and stated he wished to work out with the crew’s assistant coaches on the highway. Given every thing he’s pulled this offseason, it’s not a lot of a shock that the Sixers wouldn’t need him round.

Harden requested a commerce from the Sixers at first of the offseason after a weird sequence of occasions that noticed him choose into his participant possibility and instantly demand to be despatched to the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden appeared to believed the 76ers have been going to reward him long-term contract extension this summer time after he took a pay reduce to assist the crew add function gamers final season. High govt Daryl Morey determined to not give Harden an extension, and Harden spent the remainder of the offseason sulking as he waited for a commerce to materialize. Throughout an look in China, Harden known as Morey a liar in a viral video and stated he’d by no means play for a corporation with him once more.

Harden was with the crew in coaching camp … not less than for a short time. Harden final scrimmaged on Oct. 7, and didn’t play within the preseason.

The NBA is investigating Harden’s absence, in line with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, for the way it pertains to the league’s new participant participation coverage. In fact, there shouldn’t a lot thriller right here: Harden needs a commerce, the Sixers need an engaged participant, and Morey doesn’t need to commerce him till he is aware of he can absolutely maximize his return. This cleaning soap opera is way from over.