James Harden, in China, rips 76ers team president who once expressed support for Hong Kong protesters

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The Philadelphia 76ers may have had plans to bring back James Harden for the 2023-24 season despite trying to trade him, but the superstar guard appeared to torch any bridge being built.

Harden, while on a tour in China, ripped 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, calling him a "liar" and said he would never play for any team he is a part of.

"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of," Harden said Monday. "Let me say that again – Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."

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James Harden, left, and president of Philadelphia 76ers basketball operations Daryl Morey look on during a press conference at the Seventy Sixers Practice Facility on Feb. 15, 2022 in Camden, New Jersey. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The crowd that came to see Harden cheered after he made his statement. It was not clear what prompted the terse language toward Morey, who traded for Harden from the Brooklyn Nets back in 2022. Harden played for the Houston Rockets, where Morey was also an executive.

The timing of Harden’s comments is interesting.

The 76ers reportedly ended trade talks involving the superstar guard last week after negotiations with the Los Angeles Clippers broke down. ESPN reported the 76ers were planning on bringing him back. Harden opted into the final year of his contract for $35.6 million with the apparent hopes he would be moved and scrubbed Philadelphia from his social media.

The other quirk in Harden’s comments is the location of where they were made.

James Harden, #1 of the