After succumbing to a different second spherical playoffs defeat, Doc Rivers was fired by the 76ers and James Harden reportedly had a giant hand in it.
“Several members of Rivers’ staff, sources said, have pointed to All-Star point guard James Harden — whom league personnel is expecting to decline his player option in search of a long-term contract — as a driving force behind Rivers’ departure,” Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer experiences.
Harden occurs to have a very tight relationship with 76ers president Daryl Morey, so many suppose the 2 conspired towards Rivers.
Things between Harden and Rivers have been reportedly fairly tense all season and after the staff’s brutal Game 7 loss to Boston, Harden described his relationship with Rivers as “okay”.
Reporter: “How is your relationship with Doc [Rivers] and would you like to see him back next season?”
James Harden: “Uh, our relationship is OK.” 😬pic.twitter.com/Q2QzC2SEjI
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 14, 2023
Aspects of the pair’s relationship each on and off the court docket prompted the rift, in line with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
“That was the vibe in the locker room and it had been that way all year, despite everyone’s best attempt at putting on a nice, happy face,” Shelburne explained. “That has been an undercurrent all yr.
“There was a few team meetings I had heard about where Doc tried to say something about [Harden] going out on the road and ‘how does that look? How does it look to your teammates? If you are going to do that you gotta really show up in the game.’ There was a lot of trying to hold James accountable in certain ways.”
Philly president Morey mentioned that league MVP and Sixers massive man Joel Embiid was shocked about Rivers exit.
“[Joel Embiid] was very close with coach Rivers and, yeah, he wa shocked about the new change. It’s my job to help convince him that the new coach is someone that he’ll have a great relationship with as well.”
It appears Embiid was saved out of the loop on it, which definitely leans into the truth that Morey and Harden may have made the choice.
Harden intends to say no his $35.6 million participant choice to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent this summer time as he needs to safe a four-year deal, B/R reports.
Philadelphia is unquestionably a viable possibility for the veteran guard, however in fact, plenty of rumors are afoot.
