Harden will play for his 5th NBA team
James Harden, a 10-time All-Star and three-time NBA scoring champion, is on his way to yet another team in a different city.
Harden was reportedly traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, just over four months after the superstar guard demanded a trade.
James Harden, left, and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on April 17, 2023. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
In return, the Sixers will receive Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum and KJ Martin, while also sending PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev to L.A. The Clippers will also give up a first-round and two second-round picks to Philadelphia, who also will receive a first-rounder from the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to ESPN.
Harden’s time in Philadelphia comes to an end after just 79 regular-season games over the past two seasons.
SIXERS UNLOAD DISGRUNTLED JAMES HARDEN IN BLOCKBUSTER TRADE WITH CLIPPERS
And he burned bridges on the way out, taking shots at 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.
Harden’s departure from Philadelphia is just the latest in his movement around the league as he appears never satisfied with his situation.
He is now on his fifth NBA team after forcing his way out of the last three organizations.
Let’s take a look at Harden’s stops, starting with his most recent, in what has become a long, strange NBA journey.
Philadelphia 76ers: 2022-23
In Harden’s first season in Philadelphia, the 76ers were bounced from the 2022 playoffs by the Miami Heat in the second round.
Harden became a facilitator during the 2022-23 NBA season, leading the NBA in assists (10.7) after agreeing to a two-year contract — with a player option — that involved a pay cut in order for the Sixers to add players around Harden and Joel Embiid.
The Sixers once again failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, blowing a 3-2 series lead to the Boston Celtics in the second round.
Head coach Doc Rivers was fired and Harden exercised his $35.6 million player option with the club as the team began exploring trade scenarios, according to multiple reports.
The 76ers reportedly ended trade talks involving the superstar guard in early August after negotiations with the Clippers broke down.
Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey poses with James Harden during a press conference at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey, on Feb. 15, 2022. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Shortly after, while on a tour in China, Harden ripped Morey in front of a crowd, calling him a "liar."
"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of," Harden said. "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."
Harden missed Philadelphia’s home opener on Sunday, prompting the league to investigate why he wasn’t available, which came more than a month after the NBA Board of Governors approved a new player participation policy.
Harden sat on the bench alongside teammates during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, marking his third-straight missed game of the young season. The team cited his need to "ramp up" conditioning.
The 10-time All-Star was reportedly traded late Monday and will be paired alongside L.A.'s Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Brooklyn Nets: 2021-2022
In Brooklyn, Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had the makings of possibly being one of the greatest offensive units of all time.
But injuries hampered the "Big Three," with Harden playing in just 36 games during the 2020-21 regular season. He returned for the playoffs but reinjured his hamstring as the Nets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The next year, Irving’s refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine prohibited him from playing in games in New York City, eventually leading to Harden wanting out.
JAMES HARDEN'S ABSENCE FROM 76ERS' SEASON-OPENER PROMPTS NBA INVESTIGATION
James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets looks up during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Nov. 12, 2021. (Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
Harden did not formally request out, according to ESPN, but wanted to be reunited with Morey in Philadelphia.
The Sixers, wanting to move on from point guard Ben Simmons, made the move for Harden and paired him with Embiid.
It seemed like the perfect fit as Harden and Morey were together again.
Houston Rockets: 2012-2021
After being traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets, Harden was paired with Morey, who saw Harden’s potential to be a superstar.
Harden did not disappoint.
In his first eight seasons with the Rockets, he made the All-Star game each year, won the scoring title three times, and was named the MVP of the 2017-18 season.
Harden, along with Chris Paul, led the Rockets to Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals. The relationship between Paul and Harden began to fall apart before the Rockets made a move for Harden's former teammate, Russell Westbrook.
James Harden of the Houston Rockets celebrates after teammate Gerald Green dunks in the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Jan. 23, 2019. (Elsa/Getty Images)
After one season of playing together, Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall.
Prior to the 2020-21 season, Harden made it clear that he wanted to be moved, showing up late to training camp before playing in eight games to start the year and eventually being traded to the Nets.
Oklahoma City Thunder: 2009-2013
The first stop of Harden's career is the only stop where he was traded without asking or forcing his way out.
The thunder drafted Harden out of Arizona State in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, and he made an immediate impact.
James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder while taking on the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center in Dallas on May 25, 2011. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Paired with a young Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals during the 2011-2012 NBA season, with Harden winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award in the process.
Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets in October 2012 after he and OKC failed to reach a long-term deal.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report
Joe Morgan is a Sports Reporter for Fox News.
