76ers' James Harden says Daryl Morey relationship irreparable - ESPN

In his first public comments since rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers last week, James Harden told reporters after Friday's practice that he continues to see no way his relationship with Daryl Morey can be repaired while also saying that his plan «is to play basketball. Yes, for sure.»

«No,» Harden said flatly, when asked directly whether he thought things could get patched up with Morey. «This is not even about this situation — this is in life.

»When you lose trust in someone, it's like a marriage… you lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It's pretty simple."

Harden made a point of never saying Morey's name on Friday, only referring to him as «the front office.»

Harden comparing his relationship with Morey, now Philadelphia's president of basketball operations, to a marriage is fitting, given the two of them have been virtually tied at the hip ever since the defining moment of both of their careers, which took place 11 years ago this month when Morey brought Harden to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

From there, Harden turned himself into the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2018, and one of its greatest offensive players of this generation and of all time, helping power the Rockets to several playoff appearances, including a pair of Western Conference finals losses to the Golden State Warriors. But after the two of them were reunited this summer, their relationship broke down after the 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Harden, who called Morey a «liar» during an event in China in August, said the communication between the two sides — after being a constant for years — ended when Philadelphia's playoff run was over.

«Me and