Philadelphia 76ers’ head coach Nick Nurse has confirmed that James Harden participated in the team’s pregame walkthrough and video session before their home opener against the Portland Trail Blazers. Additionally, Harden is expected to take part in Tuesday’s practice at the team’s facility in New Jersey. This update comes after a series of setbacks and uncertainties surrounding Harden’s potential participation with the 76ers this season.
Nurse mentioned that Harden had some promising conditioning days, indicating that the player is gradually ramping up his fitness. The coach expressed optimism about having Harden back in practice on Tuesday, suggesting that the process is on track. Despite previous concerns, everything appears to be going according to plan in terms of his conditioning and preparation.
The journey towards Harden reuniting with the 76ers has been quite complex and filled with challenges. The trade request made by Harden back in June, coupled with his public criticisms of 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey in August, created tension and uncertainty within the organization. During his recent media appearance, Harden made it clear that he does not see a way to repair his relationship with Morey and refrained from addressing him by name.
Throughout the preseason, Harden’s involvement with the team has been inconsistent. He skipped media day and the initial day of training camp, only joining the team on the second day. However, after 10 days, he had to temporarily step away due to a personal situation. Nevertheless, Harden returned to the 76ers last Wednesday, agreeing to stay with the team for the rest of the week to regain his readiness to play.
During Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, James Harden was seen on the bench alongside his teammates, dressed in jeans and a green hoodie. Although he appeared briefly in the team’s introductory video, the crowd’s reaction to seeing him on the jumbotron was not captured since the starting lineup was only introduced before the game commenced.
Sunday’s game was part of a back-to-back, followed by an off-day on Monday, and practice sessions anticipated for both Tuesday and Wednesday. If Harden successfully navigates through these upcoming practices, he could potentially make his season debut on Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors in Philadelphia. The 76ers will be relying on the brilliant performances of Tyrese Maxey, who has excelled as the team’s starting point guard in Harden’s absence, scoring 31 points with 8 assists and no turnovers against the Milwaukee Bucks and 34 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 turnover in Saturday’s win against the Toronto Raptors.
James Harden’s active participation in the Philadelphia 76ers’ pregame activities and the anticipation surrounding his return to practice signify positive developments in his journey with the team. Despite the previous tumultuous circumstances, it appears that Harden is committed to regaining his form and contributing to the 76ers’ success on the court. As the team prepares for his potential season debut and continues to adjust to his return, expectations are high for a seamless integration and an exciting chapter of 76ers basketball.
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