Colin Cowherd believes James Harden is the most underappreciated athlete in America after he took a huge pay cut to help the 76ers.
A new two-year contract for James Harden with the Philadelphia 76ers will result in a $15 million pay cut for the 33-year-old player for the upcoming season. Harden now has a new player option in year two of the contract after deciding not to exercise his $47 million player option.
James Harden fought his way away from the Brooklyn Nets and into the Philadelphia 76ers because he believed it would be a better fit for him. Although he received criticism for his choice, it now seems appropriate given what is taking place in Brooklyn.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN: Free agent James Harden has agreed on a two-year, $68.6M deal, including a player option, to return to the 76ers, sources tell ESPN. Harden will make $33M for the 2022-2023 season, and has the player option for $35.6M in 2023-2024, sources tell ESPN. He can move right back into free agency next summer and negotiate another new deal.
Famous Sports analyst Colin Cowherd believes that Harden is the most underappreciated athlete in America after he took a huge pay cut to help the 76ers.
He said, “James Harden looked in the mirror and said I’m no longer a top 20 player. I’m going to take less, I want to win more. It’s that kind of self-awareness I wish Kyrie Irving had or Russell Westbrook had. James Harden deserves props. Carmelo Anthony struggled with this for Years James Harden virtually overnight said Wow I can’t beat people off the dribble wow I can’t get 28 good shots a night.”
The Philadelphia 76ers are stacked. Joel Embiid is among the best players in the world. Tyrese Maxey had a great season last year, and Tobias Harris is also a pretty good player. Cowherd believes Harden knows what’s around him, and due to it, he decided to take a pay cut.
Colin Cowherd said, “Embiid’s a star Tyrese Maxey is ascending, I’m going to take a big pay cut hope for winning, and let the other guys make some bank. That kind of self-awareness quickly is really rare in the NBA.”
He added, “Good for James Harden, listen he’s made a lot of money but a lot of guys have coming to terms with your reality going to the bathroom and staring into the mirror it’s hard for a league that is star driven and often coddles the great scores which Harden is or should I say was.“
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