NBA: Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden promises to return at ‘ top of his game’

Star shooting guard James Harden will be eyeing a healthy return in the upcoming NBA season after having to battle multiple lingering injuries to his legs over the past two years.

While playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020–21 season, Harden tore his left hamstring and was never the same prolific scorer he had been for the previous ten years. He had minor issues with the same left leg and his left wrist after being traded to the 76ers. Because of this, Harden is no longer the ‘fearless scorer’ he once was and is now a supporting player on a team vying for a championship. After these injuries, his scoring average significantly decreased, but he still managed to assist his teammates to a greater degree.

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He is spending the summer in his hometown of Los Angeles after regaining his health and is taking part in multiple training seasons in a day.

In a conversation with Associated Press, Harden said, “I’m looking to have an unbelievable season,” I don’t want to just go out there and be running around and not being efficient and looking old out there. I still want to be really, really, really good.”

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Right now, James Harden is in a contract negotiation with the 76ers franchise and has said that he is willing to take fewer dollars to make the squad more competitive. He and President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey have been in constant communication to come up with a respectable deal for the former League MVP and Harden is reportedly willing to take a ‘$15 million dollars pay cut to surround the team with better role player.

“Taking less money this year to sign as many players as we needed to help us contend and be the last team standing was very, very important to me,” the 10-time NBA All-Star said. “I wanted to show the organization, the Sixers fans, and everybody else who supports what we’re trying to accomplish, what I’m trying to accomplish individually, that this is what I’m about.”

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The 76ers recently signed NBA sneaker king P.J Tucker who is a ferocious perimeter defender and shooter Danuel House Jr to multi-year contracts.