Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden has officially declined his player option for the 2022-23 season, but it is not the doom and gloom that some may fear as he is expected to just sign a shorter deal to remain in Philadelphia and give the team some financial flexibility in free agency.
In 21 games with the Sixers after the deadline trade, Harden averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds as he beautifully ran the offense, but he had a tough time being the explosive scorer he once was. The Grade 2 hamstring injury he sustained while being a member of the Brooklyn Nets held him back a bit as he clearly was not the same player he once was.
Heading into the offseason, Harden has now been working harder than ever and he has had Sixers assistant Sam Cassell running his offseason workout plan to ensure he is ready to go for the 2022-23 season.
Per The Athletic and The Stadium’s Shams Charania:
Multiple sources said Harden returned to his workout and on-court regimen much sooner than usual this offseason, and has been ramping up his conditioning and training as the summer progresses. Typically, NBA players take time off before entering their offseason schedule, but Harden returned to his training just two weeks after the season ended on May 12. 76ers assistant Sam Cassell has spent extensive time running Harden’s regimen this summer, sources said.
The fact that Harden has started his offseason workout earlier than usual is a big help for both him and the Sixers. He has to be able to be in great shape in order to ensure that he will help the team take the next step in the Eastern Conference. Cassell is also a well-respected assistant coach who can help The Beard be in the right mindset for the future.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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