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James Harden Forced Out? Airport Security Gets Involved as Disgruntled Sixers Star Reportedly Barred From Boarding Flight

Published 10/26/2023, 1:23 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Somehow the James Harden trade saga finds a fresh bizarre turn. After months of speculation, the situation remains unpleasant and unclear. It seems like the 76ers management has now also become more stringent. 

This is after the disgruntled guard had missed out on Preseason games and continued to skip practice. Therefore, this mutual antagonism has now hit a further low. As the 76ers played their opener, the league’s reigning assists player was missing from the scene. In a fresh incident, things have now reached unmitigable levels.

Was James Harden denied the right to fly with the team?

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As per Chris Haynes, after the team’s practice, the Guard was not allowed to board the flight to Milwaukee. Writing for Bleacher Report, he reports, “After practice, Harden arrived at the fixed-base operator airport to board the team flight, but he was stopped by a security official who notified him that he was not permitted to accompany the team, sources say.”

It is clear that The Beard and the Philly franchise despise each other to no end. Denying your superstar player the right to the team’s flight sums it up. This has manifested over the summer. 

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The guard has publicly shunned their President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey, calling him a “liar”.

This famous incident only triggered a more vehement response from the franchise. They have been unwilling to give him what he wants. During their talks with the Clippers, they have been demanding more than the management has been willing to offer. Fresh accounts suggest that the LA franchise has now “paused” their Harden pursuit.

With the market dry for the oft-disgruntled player, the team seems to make things even more complicated. This has led to many questions. What is the future of the incredible player in this league? How and when will the franchise end this fiasco?

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Where is James Harden heading?

The current trajectory has further exacerbated Harden’s troubles. If the team continues to shun him then he is going to be without a team for long. What if the squad keeps him past the trade deadline? That’d surely be a huge downturn in The Beard’s career. It is astounding that a former MVP and last season’s assists-per-game leader. This is a bigger headache for the Guard because his value is only going to deteriorate. He has forced his way out of the Rockets, Nets, and now the Sixers

USA Today via Reuters

His reputation as someone who bails out has now caught up to him. The way his relationships end with franchises is a matter of worry. Who’d invest in someone who can jump ship even after having a treasure trove of talent? However, on the flip side, Harden can argue that he has earned the right to pose such demands.

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Watch This Story: Staring Down the Barrel of $1.5 Million Blow, James Harden’s “Unexcused Absence” Is “Only the Beginning” in 76ers Drama, per Veteran Analyst

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Written by:

Shubham Singh

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Shubham is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. He became a fan of the NBA in late 2000s and his interest skyrocketed after Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks upset the Miami Heat in Six Games during 2011 NBA Finals. He loves looking into playing styles of different players and teams while also trying to analyse what circumstances shape a typical NBA game.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja