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James Harden will debut for the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at Minnesota in what head coach Doc Rivers said he knows will launch a relationship that requires building trust and chemistry on fast forward.

“This is a race now,” Rivers said. “We’re gonna just have to figure it out on the fly. Speed dating. That’s what this is.”



Harden was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a trade deadline deal that sent Ben Simmons out of town along with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond. The 32-year-old averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 assists and 8.0 rebounds with the Nets this season while being limited to 44 games.

How his role develops with the 76ers isn’t clear based on Rivers stating Tyrese Maxey is his starting point guard.

Delicate Balance

Rivers said this week he expects to keep two of his four top offensive threats on the court at all times. He listed Harden, Maxey, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris as those four.

Harden said he was “blown away” by Maxey in practices since joining the team.

Harden was recognized as one of the Top 75 players in NBA history at the All-Star Game in Cleveland on Sunday. He did not participate in the game because of a lingering hamstring injury.

Harden entered the NBA in 2009 as a first-round pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played 44 games last season — eight in Houston before the Rockets traded him to the Nets — and averages 25.0 points per game for his 13-year career.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)