Harden, 76ers ink two-year $68.6M extension

PHILADELPHIA (UPI) — James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a two-year, $68.6 million contract extension. Sources told ESPN, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Yahoo Sports about the pact late Thursday. The deal includes a player option for the 2023-24 season and guarantees Harden $33 million in 2022-23. Harden, 32, averaged 22 points, 10.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game last season. He logged 22.5 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game through his first 44 appearances of the season for the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets then traded him to the 76ers in February. He averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game over his final 21 appearances of the season. The 2017-18 NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star is a three-time scoring champion. The veteran guard also was the 2016-17 NBA assists leader. Harden averaged a career-high 36.1 points per game in 2018-19 for the Houston Rockets. Harden declined a $47 million option earlier this off-season, which allowed the 76ers to spend on other additions for their roster. Reporting by Alex Butler