Amazingly, James Harden finally showed up to Philly’s training camp and there was no drama.
If you don’t believe us, just see what ESPN‘s veteran insider Adrian Wojnarowski had to say.
“Largely anticlimactic, and that was a good thing for the Philadelphia 76ers,” Wojnarowski said on NBA Today. “James Harden showed up, he got dressed, he stretched and he practised. …Certainly people were watching closely in practice waiting to see what it would look like. I was told it was drama free.”
Harden joined his teammates and new head coach Nick Nurse for their second practice on Wednesday after skipping both the media day on Monday in New Jersey, and the opening day of training camp at Colorado State University on Tuesday.
“He looked good,” Nurse said after practice. “He looked good, participated in the majority of [practice], anyway, and looked like he’s physically in good shape.”
Harden’s desire to be traded to the Clippers still hasn’t changed, but Nurse expects him to be fully present for the next two days until the team heads to Boston for their first preseason game.
“I think so,” Nurse said. “He’s here. He knows the schedule, and we expect him to be there. I think we can wait and see on [where things go from here], but every indication is that he’s here [now].”
The 10-time All-Star didn’t speak to the team after he arrived, but his teammates Tobias Harris believes actions speak louder than words.
“We’re all grown men here,” Harris said. “Everybody understands the business of the game of basketball at this point. Personally, he doesn’t have to address myself or anybody, truthfully.
“But his participation, in my opinion, is addressing that. He’s here, and his attitude and energy today allowed everybody to understand that he wants to go out here and compete with us and get stuff done. In my opinion, that’s all, really, that matters, is his energy and effort towards myself and all our teammates.
“We’re just trying to figure ourselves out as a whole group.”
No doubt there will be some drama to come, so stay tuned.
READ MORE: Patrick Beverley Addresses James Harden’s Arrival at Training Camp