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James Harden may have earned some love from Philadelphia 76ers fans for taking a pay cut this summer. The guard opted out of his $47 million player option to allow his team to sign more players this offseason.
Considering that the 76ers are a competitive team, this decision by Harden could help them win a championship.
Speaking on Undisputed, analyst Skip Bayless said he was surprised by Harden's decision and praised the 10-time All-Star for his "humility."
"I'm shocked by this because James Harden just showed me a touch of humility... 'I'm not who I used to be,' he is admitting that publicly because he had every right to say, 'I want my $47 million,' like somebody did in LA just a couple of weeks ago."
Bayless was referring to Russell Westbrook's decision to opt into his $47 million contract with the LA Lakers.
James Harden did the Philadelphia 76ers a huge favor
By rejecting his $47 million player option, Harden allowed the 76ers to pursue deals for other players, including P.J. Tucker.
Tucker contributed to the Milwaukee Bucks' championship run in 2021. After his stint with the Bucks, the forward signed with the Miami Heat. He had a solid season with the Heat, shooting 41.5% from 3-point range and playing lockdown defense. Tucker now reportedly plans to sign with Philadelphia.
Skip Bayless pointed out how Harden's sacrifice could pay off in the long run.
"It took some humility by James Harden to back off and say, 'You know what? I still don't have a ring, I don't have anything to show for this. I've made a lot of money, I'll take some less.'"
Harden is eligible to receive a five-year contract worth up to $270 million. However, he is expected to sign a short-term deal worth somewhere between $35-40 million per year.
A shorter contract offers both sides flexibility, and Harden could sign a longer deal in the future.
He has only appeared in 21 regular-season games for the 76ers.
Guess the Lakers players!
