After succumbing to a different second spherical playoffs defeat, Doc Rivers was fired by the 76ers and James Harden reportedly had a giant hand in it.
“A number of members of Rivers’ workers, sources mentioned, have pointed to All-Star level guard James Harden — whom league personnel is anticipating to say no his participant possibility searching for a long-term contract — as a driving drive behind Rivers’ departure,” Yahoo Sports activities’ Jake Fischer reviews.
Harden occurs to have a extremely tight relationship with 76ers president Daryl Morey, so many assume the 2 conspired towards Rivers.
Issues between Harden and Rivers have been reportedly fairly tense all season and after the crew’s brutal Sport 7 loss to Boston, Harden described his relationship with Rivers as “okay”.
Reporter: “How is your relationship with Doc [Rivers] and would you wish to see him again subsequent season?”
James Harden: “Uh, our relationship is OK.” 😬pic.twitter.com/Q2QzC2SEjI
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) Might 14, 2023
Facets of the pair’s relationship each on and off the court docket induced the rift, based on ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
“That was the vibe within the locker room and it had been that manner all 12 months, regardless of everybody’s greatest try at placing on a pleasant, blissful face,” Shelburne defined. “That has been an undercurrent all 12 months.
“There was a number of crew conferences I had heard about the place Doc tried to say one thing about [Harden] going out on the highway and ‘how does that look? How does it look to your teammates? If you will do that you simply gotta actually present up within the recreation.’ There was numerous attempting to carry James accountable in sure methods.”
Philly president Morey mentioned that league MVP and Sixers huge man Joel Embiid was shocked about Rivers exit.
“[Joel Embiid] was very shut with coach Rivers and, yeah, he wa shocked in regards to the new change. It’s my job to assist persuade him that the brand new coach is somebody that he’ll have an incredible relationship with as nicely.”
It appears Embiid was stored out of the loop on it, which actually leans into the truth that Morey and Harden might have made the choice.
Harden intends to say no his $35.6 million participant choice to turn into an unrestricted free agent this summer season as he desires to safe a four-year deal, B/R reviews.
Philadelphia is certainly a viable possibility for the veteran guard, however after all, loads of rumors are afoot.
