James Harden and Daryl Morey were the first to try to sign Doc Rivers for the Houston Rockets after being fired from the Clippers.

James Harden and Ben Simmons were perhaps part of the biggest “disgruntled superstar” trade in recent NBA history. Woj and Shams broke the news almost simultaneously on trade deadline day and the entire Eastern Conference landscape changed with Simmons now a Brooklyn Net and Harden a 76er.

Daryl Morey is reunited with James Harden again after almost a year on the hiatus to see if they can trade Ben for a top guard. Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and Harden being the three on Morey’s list, he got exactly what he wanted despite the public urging him to accept less impressive offers.

Also Read: ‘Michael Jordan Really Dropped Penny Hardaway’s Pants at All-Star Game’: Bulls Legend Hilariously Embarrassed Magic Guard During 1996 ASG Intros

Doc Rivers, the current head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, only accepted the position because he was intrigued by the couple Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Simmons no longer being on the roster shouldn’t be a problem though as James would have always wanted to be coached by him.

Doc Rivers was first contacted by James Harden and Daryl Morey after being let go.

After being let go by the Clippers following the Clippers collapse in 2020, it was speculated that he would retire from coaching altogether. Of course, as mentioned above, the Embiid-Simmons duo is what led him to embrace the Sixers. Before taking it however, he was contacted by both James Harden and Daryl Morey.

Also read: ‘I just thought the man in my tweet was well dressed’: Joel Embiid hilariously dodges question about him shooting Ben Simmons

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne on Anthony Gargano’s show, James Harden was the first person to contact Rivers after he was fired by the Clippers.

“Doc Rivers gets kicked out of LA and it looks like he’s going to work for ESPN or Turner. He gets a phone call, the first call he gets is from James Harden. He wants he’s coaching him in Houston. Mike D’Antoni just got fired. The second call he gets is from Daryl Morey saying, “We want you to come coach in Houston.”

Fast forward a year and a half and Morey got exactly what he wanted with both Rivers and now Harden in charge.