Former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers discusses his relationship with James Harden. What did he say?
Though he’s now training with the team and for the moment expected to play, it’s clear that the saga involving the 76ers and the former MVP is far from over.
Since the Sixers’ star first expressed his desire to leave the franchise, it’s been a roller coaster ride that’s seen a nasty public spat between him and the team’s president, as well as a failed move to the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, the team’s former head coach has weighed in.
Doc Rivers opens up about his relationship with James Harden
It’s no secret that all is not well in Philadelphia. Indeed, with star guard James Harden apparently still pushing for a trade, it remains to be seen how this will all end. With that in mind, one can imagine that when 76ers head coach Doc Rivers gave his thoughts on Harden recently, folks were all airs. Speaking during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, Rivers spoke openly about the nature of his relationship with Harden, or rather lack thereof. Keep in mind that he was in fact fired by the franchise after the Sixers fell to the Boston Celtics across seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“It wasn’t bad, it wasn’t good,” Rivers said. “It was pretty much neutral. It was an honest relationship at the end of the day. I was very honest. I really believe there’s ways you have to play to win and, obviously, I was never willing to compromise on that. It was a relationship of communication. I can tell you, we talked when we needed to talk all the time.”
Whether good or bad Doc Rivers and James Harden’s relationship didn’t work
While it’s not necessarily a bad thing that the relationship between the two men was ‘neutral’ as Rivers put it, what’s clear is that it didn’t work. Ultimately, the 76ers were unable to deliver on the obvious talent that they have on their roster such as reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, something that ultimately led to Rivers’ dismissal. Where Harden is concerned, it goes without saying that when he was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022, it was with the belief that he would help bring a championship to Philadelphia. In the end, he did not.
At this point, it’s not entirely certain that Harden will be traded though word on the street is he will in fact be moved during the season. Regardless, with Nick Nurse having been hired to replace Rivers, it appears a page has been turned in Philadelphia. Whether James Harden wants to read from it is another story altogether.