Sixers: James Harden's Heartbreaking Reason for Philly Absence, Revealed

(Photo : Megan Briggs/Getty Images) FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers watches the match between Inter Miami and the Houston Dynamo during the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Final at DRV PNK Stadium .

Philadelphia 76ers' James Harden remains indisposed, and the chances of him playing in the team's season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks are not good. The 2018 NBA MVP is reportedly attending to his family as his mother is ill, per reports.

James Harden Update:

Harden’s return is uncertain because he’s tending to his mom who is ill, I’m told.

The mindset of the 76ers PG is that the health of his mother comes first.

“He’s going through it,” a source with knowledge shares.

“He loves to compete & he is in the… pic.twitter.com/Ycvo4IpTPZ
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) October 24, 2023

"He's going through it," a source with knowledge shares via Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson. "He loves to compete & he is in the best shape of his life. But he feels a sense of betrayal from Philly."

That, plus his current predicament with the Sixers, particularly team president Daryl Morey, further complicates matters on seeing the 10-time All-Star on opening night.

"Hopefully he returns, but family comes first," the source added.

Harden remained away from the team on Monday, October 23. He continues to skip practices, and seeing the 34-year-old play against the Bucks is increasingly unclear, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Sixers ready even without Harden

With the Sixers likely playing on without Harden, first-year head coach Nick Nurse admits they have already prepared for the inevitable, CBS Sports reported.

"I think I've been preparing for it all this week, for sure," Nurse said. "Lots of thought has gone into him not playing and preparing the team that way this summer. I keep saying, there is another plan if something changes. I don't think it's affected us very much, at all. We've just gone out and played and we're going to have to go out play the way we're trying to play. I think that is without (him) until something changes."

The only team so far linked to Harden is the Clippers. Unfortunately, the Clippers and the Sixers have yet to find common ground to get an NBA trade done.