Although James Harden’s exit from the Philadelphia 76ers was not easy, all the evidence points to him and management as the only parties at fault, not any of his previous teammates. Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers is one player in particular who has been very candid about his admiration for Harden.
Maxey stated of Harden in an interview with Kelly Iko of The Athletic, “He taught me a lot.” I’m grateful to him for it. Even now, we continue to communicate, and he continues to offer criticism on my work. All I can do is express my gratitude and appreciation for him.”
Maxey and Harden were good friends; throughout his time in Philadelphia, Harden mentored the rookie guard. Now a confirmed star, Maxey claims he still stays in touch with Harden despite playing for separate teams, and he thanks Harden for a lot of his personal growth.
As was already known, Harden’s problem with the 76ers had nothing to do with any of his teammates—it was with management. This has been evident for some time now, and it gets more evident every time one of his old teammates talks highly of him.
Every night, the Los Angeles Clippers gain from having Harden in the lineup. The club has the best basketball record since December 1st, going 20-4 in their previous 24 games. Harden, who has been playing excellently, is largely responsible for that.
