On its own, 76ers guard James Harden's monster 42-point, eight-rebound, nine-assist performance against the Celtics on Sunday afternoon was one for the ages. The future Hall of Famer hit game-tying and game-winning shots as Philadelphia evened its Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.
However, Harden's interactions with Michigan State shooting survivor John Hao before and after the contest gave the win extra meaning.
After expressing a wish to bring the 20-year-old Hao to a game once he was well enough to attend, Harden fulfilled his promise. Hao, who was paralyzed from the chest down in the shooting, embraced Harden during pregame warmups.
Then, after his virtuoso role in the 76ers' 116–115 overtime win, Harden signed his shoes and gave them to Hao.
This moment between James Harden and John Hao is everything 🙌
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 7, 2023
Harden signs his shoes for Hao after the Sixers get the win!pic.twitter.com/3ERNgcn6lA
Harden added a Twitter salute to Hao, calling him the team's sixth man.
John Hao… 6th Man! #Uno pic.twitter.com/dKqLjq7PSF
— James Harden (@JHarden13) May 7, 2023
Hao and Harden spoke via FaceTime in February, shortly after the shooting that killed three and wounded five.
"They put me on FaceTime with him. He’s actually doing a little bit better. So the more I can just encourage and rub off this energy that I have and give him hope, I feel like that’s what I’m here for," Harden said at the time.
It appears safe to say that Harden made good on his word.
