Clippers’ James Harden Doesn’t ‘Care’ How 76ers Fans Will Greet Him In Philadelphia

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden told NBA reporters he doesn’t “care” how Philadelphia 76ers fans will greet him in Philly. 

The Clippers face the Sixers tonight (3/27) in Philadelphia. 

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Harden said, via The Athletic. “We have bigger problems than me worrying about Philadelphia, you know what I mean? We got bigger problems.”

Harden is right. The Clippers do have bigger problems. They are only 3-6 in their last nine games. 

“We gotta find our identity,” Harden said. “Teams are scoring easy on us. Makes it difficult to score offensively.”

Harden requested a trade from the Sixers and was traded to the Clippers in November. Philadelphia players Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and Paul Reed said they hold no ill will toward Harden after Philadelphia beat LAC on March 24. 

“We didn’t take it personal at all,” Maxey said, via The Athletic. “Even when James came to training camp, whenever he was there, he was nice to us, he was good.”

“James is a hell of a player and I’ll always have a huge amount of respect for him,” Harris said. “Playing with him here, it’s good to see him playing in L.A., flourishing and playing his game and just ballin’ out. It’s all love and respect. He’s a hall-of-fame player, and for me it was an honor being here, playing with him.”

“It was cool seeing big bro out there,” Reed said. 

Harden is averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists this season while shooting 44.0% from the field, 39.6% from beyond the arc and 88.4% from the free-throw line. The NBA legend will get booed by Sixers fans every time he touches the ball tonight.

A future Hall of Famer, Harden becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.  The lefty has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Sixers and Clippers.