The National Basketball Players Association has expressed in a statement its disagreement with the $100K fine issued by the league to James Harden and will file a grievance on his behalf.
The fine was issued in response to Harden’s recent comments in which he referred to Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey as a “liar” and said he had no intention of being part of an organization that Morey is a part of, as well as a follow-up interview in which he stated that he thinks his relationship with the franchise is “beyond repair.”
The NBPA believes Harden’s comments directed toward Morey do not constitute a trade demand. An arbitrator will decide whether Harden will have to pay the fine.
The statement read, “We respectfully disagree with the league’s decision to discipline James Harden for recent comments he made, which we believe do not violate the rule against public trade demands. We intend to file a grievance and have the matter heard by our Arbitrator.”
The NBA’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement includes a section stating that “any player who publicly expresses a desire to be traded to another team shall be subject to a fine” up to $150K.
A separate section of the CBA gives the league latitude to fine a player up to $100K if he makes a “statement having, or that was designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball or of the Association or of a (team).”
The NBA’s announcement earlier today indicated that Harden was fined because he suggested he “would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team,” which the league could argue falls under the latter of the two categories outlined above, rather than the former.
Luke Adams contributed to this story.
What Harden can’t tip for a week at the Strip Clubs and he is declaring hardship?
Harden is a dingus. He’s pulled basically the same BS each of the last three years because he’s not a serious player. Doesn’t care about winning and lacks any semblance of a killer instinct, hence the multiple 2/11 or whatever closeout games.
He’s not good enough to be demanding the level of respect he wants. I hope he gets squeezed for all he’s worth.
Daryl Morey is also a dingus. Most overrated GM on earth.
Since most people on here bash Morey, wouldn’t that make him fairly rated rather than overrated…I have not heard anyone rate him highly in quite some time lol
I’d been hearing for years, more from like 2018–2021 or whenever he came to Philly, that he was one of the league’s best GMs. The whole Moreyball thing, which wasn’t actually that revolutionary. People treated him like Billy Beane and he was never that innovative, especially because he had money to work with.
Guy has never won anything and all he does is just star chase.
Harden keeps requesting trades because he wants to win, he knows his career is winding down and doesn’t have time to stay on teams with incompetent front offices. Everyone saying that all he cares about is money and stats. He could’ve stayed in Houston and continued to be the center of the offense and collected stats and much bigger paychecks. He could’ve signed the 3 years $154 million extension the Nets offered while putting up with Kyrie’s and Sean Marks’ BS. He could’ve forced the 76ers hand last off-season instead of taking a 14 million dollar pay cut so they could sign Tucker and House.
if he wanted to win he would’ve stayed with the nets lol, if he actually did anything for them they woulda won.. but his fat dumbass thought fellow no show loser embiid was the better option
Harden wants to win? This dude has a postseason track record that says the exact opposite. Doesn’t matter where he plays. He’s always come up short
Harden WANTS to win, it’s just third or fourth on his priority list… but, sure, he’d rather win than lose
Harden, KD, Kyrie, and any other egocentric player should give their roster spots up to a young player who would die to play 10 mins in an NBA game.
Lol except no one is buying tickets to watch Timmy Tryhard and the league exists to make money soooo…sorry bruh
Giannis, Steph, Dame, and players like that pack arenas. That’s my point. Doesn’t have to be all prima-donnas or scrubs. If you’re gonna be all about yourself, just get out of the way. The NBA sucks in general. I’d rather watch an intense pickup game than a bunch of crybabies.
…and…yet here you are discussing a sport that you think sucks…you must have a fascinating life.
It’s okay to be critical of a sport that you have supported for almost 40 years. Over the last 3-4 years, these trade demands and super teams have caused me to lose interest. I don’t think the sport sucks, just the culture and greed of the NBA that allow these players to get their way.
From a story on this site earlier today (all caps are my embellishment), “The league’s investigation, WHICH INCLUDED AN INTERVIEW WITH HARDEN, confirmed that these comments referenced Harden’s belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request to be traded.”
Am I missing something here?
Pathetic…
The players association is just asking for the public to call for it to be disbanded…
Only a handful of people will be happy to see this news…
Harden demanded a trade. He also admits that he opted in for a trade. It wasn’t the team opting him in. The team was willing to accommodate but with no guarantees.
Harden is stuck and is the real liar for not taking responsibility. He needs to look in the mirror
He should be fined and so should many others. The don’t deserve their pay checks
Ridiculous. There’s no reason why this SHOULDN’T set a precedent. How can a player say they won’t play for their current GM after having demanded a trade and not violate the rule?
This is why I dislike unions that arguably become too powerful. Always advocating on behalf of their members, whether they’re right or wrong, is normally a non-issue. But once one becomes too powerful, that type of blind advocating tends to produce undesirable results on the whole (looking at you, police unions)
Sadly it’s part of the war against the pay masters…
As long as that war exists there will be those who find ways to exploit the situation…
And of course those who are part of one side of the war will always side with those on their side…
The operative provisions of the CBA are relatively clear. It’s almost as if Harden read the prohibition and decided it would be fun to violate it. NBPA perhaps wants to take the new arbitration procedures out for a spin. Or maybe just encourage some forebearance on a possible suspension. With Silver, the latter is (unfortunately) likely to work.
No shot the NBAPA wins this. He very clearly said he would not play for the 6ers which you cannot do if you are currently under contract with the 6ers
He clearly said he wouldn’t play for any team that employs Daryl Morey. The 76ers could fire Morey, then they might have a case.