NBA investigating if 76ers, James Harden violated participation policy

The NBA is investigating whether the Philadelphia 76ers and guard James Harden violated the league’s new player participation policy during their nationally televised season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, a NBA spokesperson said. the league to ESPN.

“We are reviewing the facts regarding James Harden’s availability tonight to determine if there is an approved reason for his lack of participation,” league spokesman Michael Bass told ESPN before the 76ers’ 118-117 loss in Milwaukee.

Harden’s situation presents an interesting first test of the league’s new legislation intended to increase the availability of star players for nationally televised games. The Sixers decided to keep Harden in Philadelphia after he returned to the team following a 10-day absence for what the team called “a personal matter.” The Sixers believed Harden could get back into shape more effectively by remaining in the team’s practice facility to work with the Sixers’ developmental coaches and medical staff, sources said.

Harden had wanted to travel to Milwaukee and Toronto on the team’s first road trip, but the Sixers didn’t think he was physically ready to play after spending so much time away from the team, sources said. . Beyond his 10-day absence from the team, Harden’s only preseason scrimmage took place Oct. 7 in Boston, which further clouded his preparation to make his season debut, officials said. sources.

The NBA’s player participation policy allows teams and players to opt out due to injury, personal reasons and “rare and unusual circumstances.” A team could be fined $100,000 for a first offense, with escalating penalties thereafter.

Harden’s decision to walk away from the team is believed to stem, at least in part, from his dissatisfaction with the fact that the organization has yet to honor his trade request with the LA Clippers. Harden exercised his $35.6 million player option for this season and immediately asked the team to trade him.

After months of negotiations, the Clippers withdrew from Harden trade talks in recent days, sources told ESPN. The Clippers could revisit them later in the season, but the organization wants to take time to evaluate the team around healthy stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George over the next few weeks, sources said.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks contributed to this report.