James Harden, Sixers evaluate star guard’s play in 1st training camp
CHARLESTON, S.C.–The Philadelphia 76ers wrapped up training camp on Sunday afternoon from The Citadel in Charleston, SC, and now is the time to get ready for the preseason opener on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets on the road.
James Harden has officially wrapped up his first full training camp with the team after being acquired from the Nets at the 2022 deadline and the time with the team in Charleston will do wonders for him. He now understands what he has to do with the team and he is building chemistry with his teammates as they chase a title.
With training camp officially done, Harden discussed his play during the week and his teammates chimed in as well.
Harden assesses his play
“It was good. Just trying to figure things out with the new additions and just everything. It’s basically a fresh start, a fresh canvass, and I get an opportunity to listen to what the coaches gotta say and how we wanna play offensively and defensively. Just keep chipping away.”
Harden on if he feels his explosiveness is back
“It’s getting there. We got a full training camp so there’s time and periods where you got dead legs or rough legs, but those times you gotta push through and continue to build. It builds character and things like that. I think this past week was really good for us.”
Here’s some James Harden and Tyrese Maxey shooting after practice today #Sixers pic.twitter.com/ZC32fmjIri
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) October 2, 2022
Montrezl Harrell on Harden
“It’s tough to say after I played with him first coming into the league and then split and went where I went the years I did and then come back over here and not seeing him, but he still looks like the same beard I’m accustomed to seeing, man. He’s definitely slimmed down and got himself ready to go and attack this season and just prove a lot of people wrong, really which is a great mindset to have. I think that mindset is going to trickle down to a lot of people because it’s gonna have everybody in the locker room playing with a chip on their shoulder, really.”
Shake Milton on Harden
“Man, he’s been great. He’s being the James we need him to be. With the ball in his hands, he’s like an offensive juggernaut. Getting guys in the right position and when he’s aggressive, everything else just opens up so I know that’s been a big thing for us just keeping him aggressive and everybody else just feeding off of him.”
Harden on understating his role more
“Just times when to be aggressive. Honestly, the style of play that we’re trying to play is mostly pick-and-roll or post-ups. Just trying to figure that out which I think throughout the course of the year and even just our communication will help that.”
