Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving is coming to the defense of James Harden, his former Brooklyn Nets teammate.
In a video making the rounds Monday on X (formerly known as Twitter), Harden rocked the NBA world when he called Daryl Morey, the 76ers president of basketball operations, a “liar” while at a recent press event in China with Adidas basketball.
It came shortly after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that the Sixers ended trade talks involving Harden — and then called the point guard a “disgruntled” star in a separate post on X.
Irving called out Wojnarowski in a reply tweet on Monday and appeared to take issue with the NBA insider describing the former MVP as being “disgruntled” over the situation.
“Is he Disgruntled Adrian??” Irving wrote. “Or is he holding Daryl Morey accountable for his dishonesty and lack of transparency throughout the contract negotiation process this summer?”
Wojnarowski has yet to address Irving’s comments as of Monday.
Irving has had his fair share of public problems over the years and previously received the “disgruntled” treatment as he forced his way out of Brooklyn.
After being traded to the Mavericks in February, Irving said he felt “really wanted” by his new team, as opposed to feeling “very disrespected” at times during his four-year tenure with the Nets.
Harden’s situation could’ve been a stark reminder of that time for Irving.
Harden took aim at Morey, according to Sports Illustrated, when someone at the press event asked: “What do you think about the current team claiming to end trade talks and trying to bring you back to the team?”
Harden, who requested a trade out of Philadelphia in June, called Morey a “liar” two times as the crowd oohed and aahed in a video posted by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said.
“Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
Harden, 33, is unhappy with Morey over the lack of a long-term max contract offer, according to Wojnarowski — who reported that the Sixers plan to bring the 10-time All-Star back to training camp for the start of the season.
Harden took a $15 million pay cut in July 2022 and declined his $47.4 million player option with the 76ers to sign a $33 million deal for the 2022-23 campaign.
Rumblings of a rift between Harden and Morey swirled in June when the point guard picked up the $35.6 million player option on the last year of his contract, on the way to his trade request.
The 76ers had some conversations with the Los Angeles Clippers, Harden’s desired destination, but a deal never materialized, sources told ESPN — adding Philadelphia’s asking price was steep and no teams, including the Clippers, were willing or able to meet it.
“The 76ers really have not had any interest in trading James Harden,” Wojnarowski said on “NBA Today” on Monday. “They can’t get value for him back that continues to allow them to be a contender. They essentially pulled him off the market.”
Wojnarowski said Monday that Harden’s goal is to make the Sixers so uncomfortable that they decide they can’t bring him back and trade him in a deal they ultimately won’t want.
“This has been escalating behind the scenes all year,” Wojnarowski said. “Now it’s playing out in public.”
The Sixers are reportedly determined to co-exist with Harden by the start of training camp in September.
Harden has tried to force his way off his third team in three years.
He landed in Philly as part of the blockbuster deal that sent point guard Ben Simmons to the Nets in February 2022, following Simmons’ summer standoff with the Sixers in 2021.
Harden became a star under Morey during eight seasons together with the Houston Rockets.
