The NBA is investigating whether the Philadelphia 76ers and guard James Harden violated the league’s new player participation policy for their opening night national television game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, a league spokesperson told ESPN.
“We are looking into the facts around James Harden’s availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation,” league spokesperson Michael Bass told ESPN before the 76ers’ 118-117 loss in Milwaukee.
Harden’s situation is an interesting early test of the league’s new legislation meant to increase star players’ availability for national television games. The Sixers decided to keep Harden in Philadelphia after he returned to the team following 10 days away with what the team called “a personal matter.” The Sixers believed Harden could get himself into game shape more efficiently by remaining at the team’s practice facility to work with the Sixers’ development coaches and medical staff, sources said.
This situation is pretty bad. It seems like this relationship is one that will never be fixed.
