NBA: James Harden Shares True Feelings On Former Sixers’ Teammate
James Harden is looking forward to starting a new life with the Los Angeles Clippers after a stormy couple of months.
Although it is no secret that the 2018 NBA MVP has some bad blood with Sixers President Daryl Morey, it does not appear to be the same for some former teammates like Tyrese Maxey.
The 10-time All-Star was asked to share his take on the 23-year-old former Kentuck Wildcat by Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Harden had nothing but fine words for his former teammate, stressing that he is looking forward to Maxey’s growth and maturity as an NBA player.
“I can only expect great things from Tyrese, just because of the amount of work I know he puts in,” Harden said on Sunday, November 5, from the Clippers’ team hotel in Manhattan. “He’s in the gym. He loves it, so the results are going to happen for him in a great way. I’m excited for him.
Aware of Tyrese Maxey’s work ethic, “The Beard” hopes that the 21st pick of the 2020 NBA Draft will eventually get his chance to be an All-Star player.
“Hopefully, he can have an opportunity to make an All-Star team and really show his game,” Harden stressed.
Tyrese Maxey thankful to James Harden
Ironically, the comments of Harden came not long after Maxey gave his take on the 2012 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Tyrese Maxey on what he gained from playing with James Harden, namely a growing sense of confidence: pic.twitter.com/cblCQTs3RA
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) October 31, 2023
“I texted [Harden] telling him I love him and I appreciate him … One thing that he really instilled in me is confidence. I’ve always been a confident person, but he made me even more confident than I already was … He took me under his wing, taught me a lot of things,” Maxey said to reporters.
Maxey has been doing well this season for the Sixers. As for Harden, he is reportedly set to make his debut as a Clipper on Monday, November 6, when Los Angeles plays the New York Knicks, ESPN reported.
The Clippers are favored to prevail over the Knicks per USA Today.