Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden called the team’s president “a liar” during an event held in China on Monday, vowing never to play for the basketball organization that reportedly failed recent trade negotiations for the NBA athlete.
Harden made the controversial comment during an Adidas press event about the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey. His latest appearance comes amid the basketball star opting into the final year of his $35.6 million contract with the franchise after months of voicing his desire to leave the team. But Morey failed to find a suitable deal for a Harden trade.
When asked about his current team claiming to end trade talks and return the former MVP to the Sixers uniform for the 2023-24 season, Harden did not hold back.
“Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said Monday. “Let me say that again – Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
James Harden: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” pic.twitter.com/AmHJ0WwbF2
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2023
Over the weekend, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the 76ers were ending trade negotiations for Harden despite the 10-time All-Star and 2018 NBA MVP making “emphatic” claims for months that he wanted the team to trade him.
“Harden has been emphatic in wanting a trade, so the Sixers are setting up an uncomfortable situation to start camp,” Wojnarowski posted on social media on Saturday. “Ultimately, Philadelphia wouldn’t make a trade that they believed would compromise their title hopes.”
Harden has been emphatic in wanting a trade, so the Sixers are setting up an uncomfortable situation to start camp. Ultimately, Philadelphia wouldn’t make a trade that they believed would compromise their title hopes.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 12, 2023
Harden rose to fame when he played for the Houston Rockets under Morey’s leadership. He went on to play for the Brooklyn Nets until the team traded Harden to the 76ers, reportedly due to his strong professional relationship with Morey.
Although it remains unclear what prompted Harden to criticize Morey in public, especially overseas amid high tensions with China, the timing and location of his comments provoke speculation.
In 2019, Morey sparked outrage from NBA officials after he tweeted an image supporting Hong Kong citizens protesting to preserve their autonomy from the Chinese Communist Party in October 2019.
“Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” Morey’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter, read.
Morey took down the social media post, forcing Harden, the Rockets, and NBA into complete damage control.
“We apologize,” Harden said then, according to Fox News. “You know, we love China. We love playing there. For both of us individually, we go there once or twice a year. They show us the most important love.”
“We appreciate them as a fan base,” Harden added. “We love everything there about them, and we appreciate the support that they give us individually and as [an] organization.”
According to NBC Sports, NBA officials worked to restore its relationship with China after losing nearly $4o0 million in sponsorships and state-run television airtime of league games.