"People are gonna start pushing you around and I don't wanna see no more smiling" - James Harden loved it when 76ers teammate got mad about preseason no-call, says he 'needs more of that'
James Harden will play his first full season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022-2023. With the season set to tip off, Harden shared his expectations for 76ers teammate Tyrese Maxey, who broke out in a big way in 2021-2022.
Speaking with NBC Sports Philadelphia, the 2017-2018 NBA MVP stated:
"I’m probably the mean guy on the court for our team. He’s just so nice, man. He’s just smiling. It’s like, ‘Tyrese, get mad one time’. I think he got mad in our last preseason game. He got pushed or something and they didn’t call a foul. He was pissed. I need more of that."
Harden added:
“You’re a nice guy, but you’re not under the radar anymore. People know how good you are right now and the potential that you have so people are going to start pushing you around, but all in all, he’s a really good kid. He works his butt off and we’re looking for big things out of him.”
James Harden has continued to deliver high praise towards his young teammate ahead of the season. With teams set to focus their defense on Harden and superstar center Joel Embiid, the floor should open up for Tyrese Maxey as the third-year player looks to build on a strong sophomore season.
Can James Harden finally win the NBA championship?
James Harden has had an illustrious career that landed him on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. The future Hall of Famer has one notable omission from his resume, however, as he is yet to win an NBA championship. While Harden has been in favorable situations, the 10-time NBA All-Star has failed to get it done when it matters most.
Despite playing with several superstars over the course of his career, Joel Embiid represents the first elite big man that Harden has played with. Outside of the two stars, the 76ers have considerable depth, both in their starting lineup and on the bench.
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Both Harden and Embiid will enter the season with a lot to prove. For Harden, he will be entering his 14th NBA season and the time is clicking on his opportunity to avoid retiring without a championship. Embiid, on the other hand, has faced questions about his ability to lead the 76ers past the second round of the playoffs. Despite the immense talent, he is yet to lead the team to the Eastern Conference Finals.
While the Eastern Conference has improved tremendously in recent years, the 76ers should still be expected to be in title contention. They will need plenty to go right to win it all, but having James Harden for the full season will certainly improve their chances.