After the missing the cut for this year’s All-Star Game, James Harden chimed in with a brief message on his Instagram story following the announcement of the All-Star reserves Thursday night.
The 33-year-old appeared to voice his displeasure with being left off the Eastern Conference team via a picture of a black screen that simply read, “The disrespect.” Harden, who’s appeared in the last 10 All-Star games, is averaging 21.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 11 assists per game in 34 games this season, and has missed only two games since returning on Dec. 5 from a foot injury that sidelined him for 14 games.
While Harden didn’t specify the disrespect he felt he received, the timing of his post indicates the former MVP was not pleased about falling short of his 11th career All-Star nod. The Sixers star wasn’t alone in his frustration over the “snub” as both teammate and 2022 All-Star reserve Joel Embiid and the 76ers’s Twitter account called out Thursday’s news.
Embiid, a six-time All-Star, took to Twitter to call out the NBA with a not-so-subliminal message in Harden’s defense, tweeting, “Y’all got some explaining to do @NBA.”
Twenty minutes later, the Sixers tweeted a GIF from last year’s postseason of Harden talking to Embiid on the bench, along with the caption, “the math ain’t mathin’,” and an emoji with one eyebrow raised.
Given the season he’s had thus far, Harden will likely hear his name mentioned among this year’s top snubs over the next few days, even though it’s still possible he could make the team as an injury replacement.
The NBA All-Star Game takes place on Sunday, Feb. 19.
