Former Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale attributes the dismissal to Philadelphia 76ers All-Star James Harden. “He was chubby, so I lost my job”

Former Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale has criticized 10-time All-Star James Harden, now playing with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden’s trade request from the 76ers after opting into the last year of his contract has made him one of the most discussed NBA stars this offseason – again.

Harden’s comments calling 76ers president and general manager Daryl Morey a “liar” and declaring he would “never be part of an organization that he’s [Morey] a part of” were the final chapter in this season’s book of Harden trade drаmа.

During the fourth quarter of Game 6 against the Los Angeles Clippers, the then-Rockets head coach notoriously put Harden on the bench.I got fired [11 games] into the season because he came to camp the following year overweight and unmotivated to play,’ McHale recalled. “He had a scheme”

This isn’t the first time Harden has been accused of using his unfitness as a bargaining chip in Houston; McHale was dismissed after a 4-7 start that season.Harden notably wаnted a trade out of Houston prior to the 2020-2021 season, and he came up to training camp late and clearly out of shape, to the point that some fans had accused him of donning a “fаt suit” during warmups.

Unfortunately for Harden, his refusal to get in shape before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets paid off.

Harden eventually called out an ESPN social media post mocking him for being photographed with a stack of hamburgers at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami, which was likely fueled by this theory.

The 76ers have ended trade talks, but it is unclear if Harden will report to training camp in condition or at all this season.

Superstar teammate Kyrie Irving recently came to Harden’s defense after the latter gave Morey a negаtive review.