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sports Friday 29 July 2022
Harden, 76ers make it official on 2-year, $68 million deal

By DAN GELSTON win a title, and he believes
AP Sports Writer being a 76er gives him the
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — best opportunity to do that.
James Harden decided to Together, we will work tire-
grow his beard and shear lessly to achieve our goal."
his annual salary in Phila- A member of the NBA's
delphia. 75th Anniversary Team,
Harden signed a deal worth Harden averaged 22 points
slightly over $68 million, this season for Brooklyn and
paying him about $33 mil- Philadelphia, his lowest
lion this season with a $35 since he became a starter
million player option for the in the 2012-13 season. He
2023-24 season. Harden, turns 33 in August.
though, will make about Harden, a three-time scor-
$14.5 million less this com- ing champion, told the AP
ing season than he could he was nonplussed about
have earned under his pre- taking "less" money to re-
vious deal. Harden had a turn and chase a champi-
$47.4 million option for this onship in Philly.
coming season that he "For any other players, that's
declined last month, say- a max contract," he said of
ing he wanted to give the his lower numbers, "but it's
76ers flexibility to improve Philadelphia 76ers' James Harden reacts during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball like, for me, I was not the
their roster and compete second-round playoff series against the Miami Heat on May 8, 2022, in Philadelphia. same James Harden.
for a championship. Associated Press The 76ers lost to top-seeded
"This is where I want to be. Miami in the second round
This is where I want to win, dent of basketball opera- "Taking less money this year that this is what I'm about." of the playoffs. Harden had
and I think we have the tions, posted a photo on to sign as many players as Harden vowed to return to four turnovers, four baskets
pieces to accomplish that Instagram of him posing we needed to help us con- for after battling a lingering and did not score in the
goal," Harden said Wednes- alongside Harden as the 10- tend and be the last team hamstring injury that cut his second half in the decisive
day. "From my first day with time All-Star guard known standing was very, very im- production with the Brook- Game 6 loss. They haven't
the 76ers organization, the as "The Beard" signed his portant to me," Harden said lyn Nets, and later the Six- advanced past the second
team and the fans have contract."Now this looks like in an interview this month ers, after he was acquired round since 2001. Their last
helped me feel at home a job for we, " Morey wrote. with The Associated Press. "I in a trade-deadline deal. NBA championship came
here in Philadelphia. I'm ex- Harden's plans have been wanted to show the orga- "Over the last two years in 1983.
cited to build off of last sea- clear since Philadelphia's nization, the Sixers fans and we have taken major steps "Coming back and being
son and I can't wait to get season ended: He was everybody else who sup- toward our ultimate goal the aggressor, the scorer
out on the court with the committed to staying with ports what we're trying to of becoming champions," first and then the playmak-
guys and start this journey." the 76ers and committed accomplish, what I'm trying said coach Doc Rivers. er, is something that I need
Daryl Morey, team presi- to help them get better. to accomplish individually, "James shares our drive to for myself," he said.q

Trout, sidelined with back issues, says 'career is not over'

By DAVE SKRETTA July 12 with what was first already begun to produce
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — called back spasms, then results.
Mike Trout appreciated all went on the injured list a He has a follow-up visit next
the support he received week later with what was week and "we'll go from
Wednesday after the Los called rib cage inflamma- there," he said, though he
Angels Angels' head trainer tion. has every intention of be-
revealed the three-time On Wednesday, Angels ing back this year.
AL MVP had a "rare" spinal trainer Mike Forstad re- "Of course," he said. "That's
condition that could affect vealed it to be a rare spinal my goal."
him for the rest of his ca- condition, saying it's some- The Angels have had no
reer. thing Trout "has to manage discussions about shutting
Even if Trout thought the not just through the rest of him down.
whole thing was blown out the season." "I don't think we're at a point
of proportion. "I got back and my phone where we're going to make
"I think he meant that I have was blowing up: 'My career that decision," Frostad said.
to stay on top of the routine is over,'" Trout said, smiling "He's going to have a fol-
I do on a daily basis to keep at the absurdity of the over- low-up here once we get Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, left, and Shohei Ohtani enter the
field during batting practice a day before the 2022 MLB All-Star
it from coming back," Trout reactions he'd been seeing back and we'll just kind of baseball game, Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles.
said after watching his An- online. "It's just rare for a see what the doctor thinks Associated Press
gels beat the Kansas City baseball player. I just have at that point."
Royals 4-0 to clinch their first to stay on top of it." Trout, the second-highest RBIs through 79 games, a out his teammate — he's
series win in nearly a month. Trout has been examined paid player in the game at rare bright spot in what has obviously a good sound-
"I'm appreciative of all the by Dr. Robert Watkins III, a $37.1 million, had been en- been a dismal season for ing board for a lot of young
prayer requests," he add- top back specialist and the joying a nice bounce-back the Angels. players. For them to have
ed, "but my career is not co-director of the Marina season after a calf injury "He's been a great team- him here and know that
over." Spine Clinic in Los Angeles, limited him to just 36 games mate," Angels interim man- he's supporting them is
The 10-time All-Star left a and received a cortisone last season. He was hitting ager Phil Nevin said. "He's huge, I'm sure, for some
game against Houston on injection last week that has .270 with 24 homers and 51 been the dugout, helping younger guys."q