"Philadelphia was my first choice at first. But it didn't happen. Still, I've known for a very long time that it was the perfect place. Because it has the best interior in the league, Joel Embiid “, he said at a press conference.

The 2018 MVP will indeed compose a shock duo with the Cameroonian pivot - impressive for several months and a serious candidate for the title of best player of the season - and wants to be confident about the automatisms to be quickly perfected between them, two months from the start. playoffs.

"His level of play at the moment is incredible and I think we complement each other. We have what it takes to find solutions together. I feel like I can make my teammates better too, I'm here to bring my contribution to a core of excellent players", explained "Thé Bard" (the bearded man) who will not make his debut in his new jersey until after the All-Star Game this weekend, for which he moreover withdrew.

In Philadelphia, Harden finds Aryle More, his former general manager at the Rockets who tried to enlist him last year, and seems impatient to evolve under the orders of Doc Divers, the head coach of the Sixers.

"The chance of my life"

"I'm going to work with one of the best coaches there is. Why wouldn't I want to be coached by him? I've been playing for a long time, but he's been here much longer and he's more experienced than me. And as a player, I still need help, I still need to learn," he said.

James Harden poses with Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers, during his press conference at the club's training camp, on February 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, following his transfer from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Australian point guard Ben Simmons Philadelphia 76ers Introduce James Harden Tim Nwachukwu GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

The three-time top scorer in the League (2018, 2019, 2020), who signed with the 76ers as part of a trade with Australian point guard Ben Simmons, remains on a failure in Brooklyn, where the "Big 3" which he formed with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving only worked by rare sparks, each having been injured in turn, when the covid did not interfere, Irving still being banned from playing in New York, because not vaccinated.

The latter's situation "played very little" in his decision to leave Brooklyn, Harden said.

"Kyrie and I are very good friends. Whatever he went through is his personal choice. But it definitely had an impact on the team. It's unfortunate that we only played 16 matches together. That's how it is..."

James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets against the Boston Celtics, during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference NBA playoffs, May 22, 2021 in Brooklyn ELSA GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives

"14 months ago I couldn't see myself playing for three different teams. There were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of stress. But whatever, that's in the past. I'm happy, healthy and... it's the chance of my life," he concluded.

© 2022 AFP