NBA Hoops

Harden knows he’s no longer the man in Philadelphia

Harden knows he's no longer the man in Philadelphia

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — James Harden and Joel Embiid are beefing over who has been the most unbeatable Sixer during 1-on-1 competition at training camp. The smack talk escalated this week after a recent practice, each one badgering the other over who really is the alpha dog in Philly.

Who’s the better scorer? Rebounder? Nah, the thorny topic in this instance, gaming.

Harden tells Embiid he can beat him in FIFA.

“Of course,” Harden said.

“He said ‘OF COURSE,’” Embiid said, unable to stifle his laughter.

“How many games we play?” Embiid said. “Five games?”

“I don’t remember,” Harden retorted. “I haven’t played in four years. I used to be really, really good.”

So The Beard pokes reporters to quiz Embiid about his skills in Madden. Embiid insisted he doesn’t play the football video game on a regular basis, but conceded of Harden, “he’s good.”

“But give me two weeks,” Embiid said, “I’ll be the best.”

Embiid already is the 76ers’ go-to guy once the controllers go down and the basketball is tossed up. The question that looms over the Sixers is can they get the two to mesh in their first full season together so they can contend for a title — especially when Harden has to defer to last season’s MVP runner-up?

No longer needed to average 30-plus points a game as he did when he starred as one of the NBA’s great isolation scorers, Harden is now the No. 2 in the Philadelphia’s 1-2 punch. Embiid is the reigning NBA scoring champion and the face of the franchise.

The 33-year-old Harden, the 2018 MVP, is trying to prove he’s recovered from lingering tightness in his left hamstring last season that decimated his explosiveness and forced him into “tough times, lot of dark moments.” He took less money to return to the Sixers and dropped some weight over the summer. He’s in better condition and serving as a mentor of sorts to blossoming talent, like Tyrese Maxey.

“You’ve got to be a leader,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers expressed to Harden after Thursday’s practice. “Get them to do it right.”

Rivers told Harden he needs to act as a facilitator, and “be the aggressive James” like he was at the end of practice.

“It’s going to come. It’s going to take a while,” Rivers told the veteran. “But when it clicks, James, we’re going to be unbeatable. Unbeatable. But you’ve got to keep your spirit up.”

Spirits up, even with the wine connoisseur’s new role.

“You’ve been the President,” Rivers…

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