On the same day that news broke of the NBA’s plan to fine 76ers guard James Harden $100,000 for comments he made about team president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, the NBPA will file a grievance against the league on Harden’s behalf.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the players association is disputing the NBA’s position that Harden violated the collective bargaining agreement’s rules prohibiting public trade demands. Harden publicly called Morey a liar while in Beijing on Aug. 14.
“Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said. “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 in the NBA.”
The $100,000 fine is the maximum allowed by the CBA for a player who make “statements prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball, the NBA, or a team,” per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Harden was traded to Philadelphia in February 2022. He played in 58 games last season, averaging 21.0 points and a league-best 10.7 assists per game. The Sixers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, falling to the Celtics in seven games.
