If there’s one thing that James Harden will always do it’s go out of his way to make sure that you know he’s unhappy in a situation.
When he quits, he quits for real. There’s no debating it or second-guessing it. Harden is out. And there’s not really anything you can do to get him to come back in.
Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers are going through that with him right now. It shouldn’t be surprising at all, because it’s the same thing Harden did to the Brooklyn Nets, which also happens to be the same thing he did to the Houston Rockets.
None of this is surprising at all. But, let’s be honest, it is pretty funny.
I mean, how many times have we seen Harden just outright tank a game? Or what about that time he showed up at Lil Baby’s birthday party instead of reporting to training camp for the Rockets?
Now, he’s calling Daryl Morey a liar in China where the 76ers GM is still public enemy number one? You can’t make this up, folks.
With the hilarity of all this in mind, I’ve taken the liberty of ranking Harden’s most ridiculous trade demand strategies by how funny they are. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did because, WHEW, this was a blast.
Waiting until the trade deadline to request a trade from the Nets
Talk about putting your team between a rock and a hard place. He was afraid of the backlash he might draw if he outright just asked for a trade, so he hesitated to do it.
Then, at the very last minute, he just did it. On FaceTime. EL. OH. EL. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne have more.
“Finally, as Thursday’s trade deadline neared, Harden spoke up and told Marks and Tsai that he preferred to play for the Sixers. For weeks, Harden hoped he could avoid the public backlash of asking out of his second franchise in consecutive years, but his passive-aggressiveness hadn’t worked in selling the Nets on the idea they had to move him.
Over FaceTime calls, Harden told his GM and owner that he wanted a trade to Philadelphia, sources said”
Harden is unreal, man. This is definitely the least funny tactic, but it’s also complete comedy.
Dipping out on the Nets after dropping a 37-point triple-double
Now this one? This one is gold. James Harden probably had his best game of the season on January 21st against the San Antonio Spurs. He put up a 37-point triple-double.
Mans truly went crazy.
How does he celebrate? BY LEAVING THE TEAM AND GOING TO HOUSTON TO PARTY.
He comes back to the team and puts up a stinker against Utah, per Jake Fischer.
“After posting an emphatic 37-point triple-double on 13-of-24 shooting at the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 21, Harden left the team for Houston and a night of clubbing, B/R has learned. He rejoined the traveling party in Minnesota for a Jan. 23 game against the Timberwolves and scored just 13 points on 13 attempts.”
Harden might really be a cartoon character, y’all.
Completely tanking against the Kings
Literally a couple of weeks after that game, Harden played his final game of the season with the Nets on February 2. It was against the Kings. The dude finished with more turnovers than points.
He had six turnovers.
That man was done done. That’s all, folks. Stick a fork in ’em.
He opts into his contract with the 76ers
I’m not sure if this is more funny or confusing. Because it’s a lot of both.
Honestly, it’s probably the most relatable situation here for Harden? So many people make this same sort of decision every day. That decision, by the way, is the “OMG I hate my job, but also I ain’t leaving they paying me too much,” decision.
That man opted right back into that contract for $35.4 million dollars. But then he also immediately said “GET ME OUTTA HERE” right after it. And, y’all, if that’s not funny then I don’t know what is.
Telling the Rockets that they suck after completely giving up against the Lakers
This moment for James Harden is the equivalent of the Eric Andre “Who killed Hannibal?” meme. It’s hilarious.
First, Harden doesn’t try at all in a blowout against the Lakers. Then, on the postgame podium, he pretty much tells the Rockets that the team stinks and there’s nothing he can do about it. You know, as if he’s not on the team.
"I love this city. I've literally done everything I can. This situation is crazy. It’s something I don’t think can be fixed. Thanks."
—James Harden on the Rockets pic.twitter.com/LcPLn09TgE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 13, 2021
“This situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed. Yeah. Thanks.”
That’s unreal. The OK, thanks, bye at the end is really what gets me.
The dude was just like NOPE. Nothing I can do. Get me out of here. The Rockets did just that a few days later.
Calling Daryl Morey a liar...in China
Look, we know Harden thinks Daryl Morey is a liar. That’s fine. But, y’all. We’re not talking enough about how he did this while talking to the Chinese press.
This tweet from Pablo Torre explains exactly how hilarious this is.
Harden campaigning against Morey in China — where Daryl is NBA Enemy No. 1 for tweeting FREE HONG KONG — is why James is easily the greatest trade-demander of all time. A verbal, geopolitical fatsuit https://t.co/UMXjN3lzR9
— Pablo Torre 🏴☠️ (@PabloTorre) August 14, 2023
Harden went to where his enemy was the No. 1 public enemy and set it off. This just became a next-level trade demand, y’all. GOAT status for this guy. Nobody does it better.
Not picking up the ball just because with the Nets
Look, I don’t know when Harden truly decided he wanted to be traded away from the Nets. But I have to imagine that it was at this moment right here against the Pistons. Because why else would you not pick up the ball?
James Harden falls asleep, Saddiq Bey steals it and throws it down! 🔥pic.twitter.com/BLVzursdpi
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 6, 2021
This man pulled a Vontae Davis and retired mid-play. That’s crazy. I’ve never seen this before.
Going to party with Lil Baby instead of going to training camp
The complete disregard that this man had for the Houston Rockets by the end of his time there can be considered nothing other than pure comedy.
Harden did not care. He was supposed to be reporting to training camp. Instead, he was with Lil Baby showering him with gifts.
To be specific, he got his homie a Prada bag because he was “Prada” him, $100,000, a Richard Mille watch and a whole bunch of honey buns. Yes, honey buns. Both figuratively and literally.
Meanwhile, Stephen Silas was just wondering when his best player would show up to the team. It’s a tough league, man. A tough league.
