James Harden skips 76ers’ practice for second day in row

CAMDEN, NJ — Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden skipped practice Thursday for the second day in a row, with the team officially saying the disgruntled player was out for a personal matter.

“I think the organization made it clear what was going on,” coach Nick Nurse said at the New Jersey 76ers complex. “They work on things, as they say, day in and day out. We had a really good practice today. Very energetic. The guys that were here, that’s what we’re focusing on.”

Harden has yet to play in the preseason. He attended training camp and continued to practice with the 76ers following his offseason trade request. Harden said last week that his broken relationship with team president Daryl Morey couldn’t be repaired — comparing it to a broken marriage — and said over the summer that he couldn’t playing for the 76ers.

Part of Harden’s complaint comes from his belief that he should have landed a long-term contract with the Sixers after last season. It never came; thus, he made the commercial request.

Harden, who was noncommittal last week about the status of his trade request, said he might try to play in the Sixers’ preseason finale Friday against Atlanta. Nurse, in his first season, said Harden playing in the Finals now seemed “unlikely.”

“This has been going on for a long time now,” Nurse said. “I have a job to do with the guys that are here and we’re just going to work. If that changes, we’ll adjust. That’s what we do.”

Harden has been one of the best players in the league over the past decade, winning three scoring titles and the 2018 league MVP award. He led the league in assists last season.