Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard James Harden is reportedly expected to be out for a month due to a right foot tendon strain, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday (November 3).
Harden underwent testing in Philadelphia on Thursday on the injury, which he experienced during the 76ers' 121-111 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday (November 2) night.
The former NBA MVP was averaging 22 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists during his first nine games of the 2022-23 season.
Harden agreed to a significant pay cut in order to stay with the 76ers and provide the team with more cap space this past offseason.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Harden took a $15 million pay cut for next season that allowed Philadelphia to elevate its roster — with the sole focus on a championship run in 2023," according to sources with knowledge of the deal.
Harden opted out of a $47 million player option last month and will now sign a new two-year deal with a player option next offseason, according to Charania.
The 33-year-old averaged 22 points and 10.3 assists during the 2021-22 NBA season, having joined the Sixers after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets for former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons in February.
The Sixers, however, fell short of their high postseason expectations, having lost in the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the fourth time in five years, once again falling short of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Harden was previously acquired by the Nets in a mid-season trade the previous year, following an eight-year tenure with the Houston Rockets as one of the league's brightest stars.
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