James Harden not surprised Irving, Durant left the Brooklyn Nets / News - Basketnews.com

James Harden opened up on the reasons Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving followed in his footsteps, asking to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets.

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James Harden said Saturday that he sensed a dysfunctionality during his brief tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, so he's not surprised that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have also forced their way out of the team.

James Harden

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Harden wanted out of Houston so he could team up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. In the past week, the Nets have fallen apart with Durant getting traded to the Suns and Irving being sent to the Mavericks.

"Fast forward to today, I don't look like the crazy one," said Harden, who was greeted with chants of "traitor" as he scored 29 points in a 76ers' win in Brooklyn.

"I don’t look like the guy, or the quitter, or whatever the media wants to call me. I knew what was going on and I just decided I’m not built for this. I don't want to deal with that. I want to play basketball and have fun and enjoy doing it. Fast forward to today, they've got a whole new roster.”

In January 2021, Harden was acquired from Houston by the Nets, who became favorites to win the title with their powerful trio of stars. They were eliminated in the second round of those playoffs after Irving and Harden were hurt in the series against Milwaukee.

Brooklyn struggled to get off the ground in the 2021-22 season after Irving refused to get a coronavirus shot, keeping him out of home games.

In January 2022, after Durant sprained his knee, the three-star group was often reduced to just one. Harden seemed to show less interest and effort in games, where the team had to field unproven players alongside him.The bearded star told the organization that he wanted to leave. The Nets got his wish by sending him to the 76ers, in exchange for Ben Simmons.

Harden didn't say whether his frustrations or the Nets' problems began with difficulties getting Irving.

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"I didn’t just ask to leave for no reason. I was in a really good place in Houston. Obviously, we didn’t have a chance to win the championship, but I was comfortable," Harden said.

"So for me to up and leave my family and all the things that I created there to Brooklyn for, what a year and a half? To just up and leave? It was for a real reason, but I’m happy for the organization in what they got back. They got some really good pieces."

Harden is averaging 21.3 points and a league-best 10.8 assists per game with the 76ers, who currently are third in the Eastern Conference.

"There was a lot of dysfunction, clearly. There were many internal things. I will never say this in front of the press, but that was one of the reasons why I made my decision," Harden said, after scoring 29 points as the 76ers beat Brooklyn 101-98.

Harden said it was tough for him to demand a trade from Houston where he had spent eight full seasons and won an MVP. In exchange for Harden, the Rockets received a haul of unprotected first-round picks and pick swaps that they hope only will increase in value now that the Harden-Durant-Irving trio has disintegrated.

The Rockets have the Nets first-round pick in 2024 and 2026 and the right to swap positions in the first round in 2023, 2025, and 2027.

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