Philadelphia 76ers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

James Harden doesn't wait until playoffs to no-show for 76ers

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 10/18/23

James Harden did the equivalent of a no-call, no-show at 76ers practice Wednesday. No-showing is something he's all too familiar with, as his postseason track record suggests.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Harden "remains frustrated at the lack of progress towards a trade to the Clippers" and that his absence from Sixers practice "was not communicated in advance."

Harden was expected at practice today, sources said. In other words the “no-show” was not communicated in advance.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 18, 2023

While unannounced, Philly shouldn't be shocked about Harden's absence. For starters, he's unhappy with Daryl Morey and wants out — not to mention he's already no-showed for the 76ers before, albeit not physically failing to show up before.

No, we're talking about how he failed to show up during the most crucial stretch of last postseason. This is what he does. He's just getting a head start this year.

Harden is one of the biggest underperformers in the playoffs, constantly failing to show up in big games. In Games 6 and 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals when Philly held a 3-2 series lead over the Celtics, for example, he may as well have been home in Houston. Harden shot 25.9 percent from the field (9.1 percent from three) while averaging 11 points and five turnovers.

Harden also infamously disappeared during the 2017-18 playoffs after winning league MVP and leading the Rockets to the league's best regular-season record, shooting a dismal 24.4 percent from three in a 4-3 series loss to Golden State. The Rockets also blew a 3-2 series lead in that one.

Unfortunately for the 76ers, postseason Harden is already here. The disgruntled star is a shell of his former MVP form but still behaves like he's owed something by the 76ers. Harden could have opted out of his contract to sign with the Rockets (or another team) during the offseason if he wanted out of Philly, so it's impossible to feel sorry for him.

The hassle of doing business with Harden outweighs the benefits of having him on the roster, and Philadelphia could be stuck with him for the foreseeable future.

Why would any team want to trade for him when it knows he will collapse under postseason pressure and demand a trade in 10 months?

It's an exhausting cycle of Harden's creation, and no team should be eager to help get the Sixers out of it. He's doing the rest of the league a valuable service by staying away from Philly. Those 29 other teams are getting a glimpse of what it will be like to have Harden when it matters most. He won't be there.

More must-reads: