MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 10: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on May 10, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES - James Harden is vowing a return to his high-scoring form after battling a lingering hamstring injury that created rare doubt for the three-time NBA scoring champion over the last two seasons.He expects similar big things from the Philadelphia 76ers after taking less salary in his contract this season to help the team improve and chase the championship he still seeks.Harden injured the hamstring playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020-21 season.
The first serious injury of his 13-year career was "a wake-up call" that had Harden thinking about life outside of basketball.Finally healthy again, he's spending the summer in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Relaxing barefoot in a fully furnished, nine-bedroom, 14-bathroom rented mansion perched on a hillside above Beverly Hills with panoramic views stretching to downtown LA, Harden is eager to put the past behind."I’m looking to have an unbelievable season," he said Sunday. "I don’t want to just go out there and be running around and not being efficient and looking old out there.
I still want to be really, really, really good."Harden declined his $47.4 million player option with the 76ers for next season and instead agreed to a new two-year deal that will pay him $32 million in 2022-23.