"It starts with Harden committing to the program" - NBA analyst says everything else is secondary to James Harden getting back in shape

James Harden joined the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline last season. Since then, the former MVP has not been at his best. His performances in the playoffs contributed to the team's exit in the second round against the Miami Heat. However, Harden has made his intentions for next season clear.

Harden's goal is to win a championship. In pursuit of that goal, the 10-time All-Star has taken a massive $15 million pay cut on his salary. James Harden had the opportunity to opt into his contract, which would have guaranteed him $47.3 million. He declined that option in order to help the 76ers improve their roster.

Nick Friedell said this would undoubtedly help Philly build a contending team. He also stated that Harden's performance will determine the team's success. Speaking on ESPN's "This Just In," Friedell said:

"They just can get a lot more guys in potentially with the money that Harden is leaving on the table right now. Now there is no doubt Daryl Morey is saying to James Harden, 'Hey, we'll take care of it, we'll get you back on the back side,' but all what could happen is secondary to Harden being the player he used to be."

After an underwhelming playoff run, James Harden is putting in the work for next season. Since going to the Brooklyn Nets, the former MVP has not been in the best shape. However, with three months left until the start of the 2022-23 season, Harden is looking in better shape than ever.

Friedell continued:

"It starts with Harden committing to the programme and being in the kind of shape that led him to be the best player in the game for such a long time.

"If he gets back to that level, the other part of this is a lot of people around the league that could go 'Philly, this can work with Embiid playing the way he did last year.'"

Can James Harden lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship next season?

Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Four

James Harden is one of the most gifted players in the NBA, but has failed to win a championship so far. Harden came to Philly hoping to win that elusive ring butcame up short last season.

Going into the 2022-23 season, the 76ers have reasons to be happy. They retained James Harden. They also signed a proven champion in PJ Tucker, a key contributor in the Milwaukee Bucks' 2021 championship run. He is a solid defender and brings toughness to the team.

If the 76ers are to succeed, Harden will have to be at his very best. He has critics to silence and it will be interesting to see how he performs next season.