Imagine being hit with a hefty fine for calling someone a “liar…” Well, that’s exactly what happened to NBA star James Harden.
The Philadelphia 76ers player was hit with a $100,000 penalty for publicly calling Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar.” That happened at an event in China last week (Aug. 14.) His fine is the maximum amount the NBA can hit any player with.
A video of the incident that has been circulating online shows the basketball player saying, “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.” Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Harden reportedly told NBA investigators his comments were in reference to Morey telling him the 76ers would trade him “quickly” after he opted into his deal for the 2023-24 season.
Harden also told KHOU 11 News Houston that he believes that his relationship with Morey and the 76ers “is beyond repair” which later led an investigation into his comments.
How’s Philly feeling this morning? Nobody could see this coming, right? pic.twitter.com/WFUcKFWFRz
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) August 14, 2023
The 76ers have ultimately ceased trade discussions involving Harden and plan to keep him into the season. Morey has previously said that he would only trade Harden for “either a very good player or something that we can turn into a very good player.”
The league officially announced the move to fine Harden this Tuesday morning in an official statement that read, “Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden has been fined $100,000 by the NBA for public comments on August 14 and 17 indicating that he would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team. The league’s investigation, which included an interview of Harden, confirmed that these comments referenced Harden’s belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request to be traded.”
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/j3VZLxgXA5
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 22, 2023
As intense things may seem, 76ers owner Josh Harris said that he is working to convince Harden to remain in Philadelphia. However X he’s willing to “accommodate what he wants” if he and the team are unable to get the 2017-18 NBA MVP and 14-time All-Star to rescind his trade request to the L.A. Clippers, The Atlantic notes.
“Listen, we’re hard at work,” Harris, the new primary owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, said Monday afternoon before the Commanders-Ravens preseason game. “I respect James. I want to, obviously, accommodate what he wants. At the same time, I have to think about a championship-contending team, and what we can get back. I’d love to convince him to stay. I understand that that’s not what he wants to do right now.
“I’m going to keep working to resolve it in a way that everyone can live with and is positive for everyone, whatever that resolution is. … I respect him as a basketball player, and as a person. It’s back to, these are, you’re dealing with people, right? And you’ve got to be there. We’ll see where it comes out.”