Nets

James Harden Didn’t Get Along With Steve Nash While With Nets, Insider Says

March 22, 2022

Not long after the Nets traded for James Harden, it became evident he wasn’t going to be a fit, according to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports.

“Steve Nash and James Harden weren’t getting along,” Robinson said on the Straight Fire podcast with Jason McIntyre, via TalkBasket. “The two of them are cold, I can tell you that on record. The issue was Steve Nash and James Harden.

“And in turn the fact that Kevin Durant was basically pushing the Nets management to make that trade for James Harden last season. That’s kind of why they wanted him out because it made him look bad on his job.

“It made Durant look bad to his employers because last year when James Harden was playing for that team, even though Steve Nash was the head coach, he was playing within a Mike D’Antoni system. This was Houston all over again. This season the playbook shifted much. That’s not a Mike D’Antoni system anymore.”

?️ Hoops Insider & Analyst Brandon "@ScoopB" Robinson joins @jasonmcintyre on the Straight Fire Podcast to talk all things basketball including what really happened with James Harden & the Nets.

?FULL PODCAST: https://t.co/qezKj0wFsA pic.twitter.com/CXmHXwq3CD

— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) March 22, 2022

Harden, of course, has since been traded to the 76ers, where he seems to be a much better fit next to fellow star Joel Embiid. Meanwhile, the Nets have barely skipped a beat minus Harden, or Ben Simmons, the injured guard/forward for whom Harden was traded.

While Simmons has yet to play (and may not this season) because of a back issue, the Nets also received Andre Drummond and Seth Curry in the trade. Those two have proven to be underrated additions.

But mostly for the Nets, if Durant is healthy and Kyrie Irving is eligible to play, they seem to have a good shot at beating anyone, anywhere, any time.

So whether Harden got along with Nash or not, the trade seems to be working out well for everyone. With the addition of Simmons, whenever that may be, it might work out better for the Nets. But time will tell on everyone involved.