James Harden responds to perception he's a bad teammate

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

James Harden after 76ers debut: 'I’m one of the best teammates that the NBA’s seen'

By Adam Stites | Last updated 2/26/22

Day one of the Philadelphia 76ers' James Harden era went about as well as the team could've possibly hoped. In a 133-102 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Harden scored 27 points with 12 assists and eight rebounds.

After the successful debut, Harden pushed back against the narrative that he's a difficult player to work with.

“I don’t know why,” Harden told reporters Friday night. “That’s for the media. The media say that. I feel like I’m one of the best teammates that the NBA’s seen, on the court and off the court.”

"I feel like I'm one of the best teammates that the NBA's seen" - James Harden pic.twitter.com/ez2N5Yv9B5
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) February 26, 2022

Harden, 32, was traded to the 76ers earlier in February after a little over one year with the Brooklyn Nets. It was the third time Harden has been traded in his career after previous stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

In Philadelphia, Harden is tasked with finding a successful partnership with MVP favorite Joel Embiid. On Friday, Embiid scored 34 points with 10 rebounds, while point guard Tyrese Maxey added another 28 points.

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