Tyrese Maxey Denies Claim He Cried to Doc Rivers About James Harden
The Philadelphia 76ers star refuted an ESPN pundit's assertion on social media.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey has publicly denied a claim made by ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith regarding his past relationship with former teammate James Harden.
Smith stated on ESPN's "First Take" that Maxey had once approached former 76ers coach Doc Rivers "damn near crying" over Harden's perceived lack of effort during the 2023 NBA playoffs. Maxey responded Friday via X, formerly Twitter, stating, "I’ve never even been to DOC house 😂."
Smith's assertion came a day after Maxey and Harden were involved in a visible confrontation during the 76ers' comeback victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two players exchanged shoves and engaged in a heated exchange on the court before being separated by teammates. Smith suggested this incident stemmed from lingering issues from the 2023 playoffs.
During the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics after squandering a 3-2 series lead. Harden's performance in the final two games of that series drew criticism, as he struggled with his shot.
Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers several months later. Maxey scored 32 points in the 76ers' win against the Cavaliers, while Harden contributed 16 points but committed six turnovers.