James Harden Says 'Hell Yeah' To Sixers Championship Hopes

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia sports world has its newest superstar, and he wasted no time in shooting for the moon.

James Harden, the former NBA MVP and three-time scoring champion who remains one of the most potent offensive threats on the planet, was landed in a blockbuster stunner by the Sixers last week with the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Ben Simmons.

The Sixers introduced him to fans Tuesday afternoon at their practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. When asked if he sees the pairing of him and Joel Embiid as a duo that can win a title, he did not mince words.

"Hell yeah," he responded.

Fans will not get to see Harden in action for the Sixers until the after the All-Star break. Harden is recovering from a hamstring strain. That means his first game for the team would be on Feb. 25 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His first home game would be against the New York Knicks on March 2.

Harden had long been unhappy in Brooklyn, where he landed last year after demanding a trade from the Houston Rockets, his longtime home. Sixers current President Daryl Morey was in charge of basketball operations in Houston during Harden's MVP tenure there. When things turned south with fellow superstar Kevin Durant in Brooklyn, Harden knew he wanted to come to Phily

"I just knew for a very long time this was a perfect fit," he told reporters during Tuesday's briefing.

The Sixers, who have been without Simmons all year, are 34-22 and just 2.5 games out of first in the Eastern Conference.

Simmons, the former first overall draft pick, Rookie of the Year, and multiple time All Star, was once considered a long-term foundational piece alongside Joel Embiid. Now he's the key piece on an arch rival. To land Harden, the Sixers also gave up Seth Curry and two first round draft picks. In addition to Harden, the Sixers received Paul Millsap.