Adam Silver went in on this one.
The NBA hit Philadelphia 76ers superstar James Harden with a hefty $100,000 fine after recent comments he made indicating he “would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team,” as well as other remarks slamming Sixers president Daryl Morey as a “liar,” according to an announcement Tuesday from the NBA.
The league launched an inquiry Aug. 19 into Harden’s comments that were made Aug. 14 and Aug. 17.
It was found in the league’s investigation that Harden‘s comments stemmed from his belief the 76ers would not honor his request to be traded, according to the NBA’s statement. The league interviewed Harden as a part of their investigation.
The NBA’s biggest issue was Harden’s remarks that he would never be a part of a franchise that features Morey, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It was a bit too touchy for the league’s rules about public trade demands.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/j3VZLxgXA5
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 22, 2023
I can’t say I blame the NBA for this move.
You can’t just have players — superstars at that — randomly blasting your team executives and straight up saying they won’t play for a particular team, and then doing all this in China at that. Any foreign country would’ve been bad, but you had to do this in China?
It’s just a bad look. (RELATED: Michigan Suspends Jim Harbaugh For 3 Games: REPORT)
A trade request or trade demand is one thing. I personally have no problem with that kind of business. Sometimes a change is needed, I get it. But to conduct that kind of business the way James Harden did?
It was just too much, and that’s exactly why Adam Silver went ham with that $100,000 fine.