Is the Giannis/Harden beef a real thing?

[Imon]

Harden didn't like that Giannis was stealing his MVP, even put an add in the local Milwaukee paper abut it. Giannis holds grudges forever. He's still dealing out payback for dudes that trash talked him in his rookie year.

Jerryd Bayless was a **** to Giannis when they were teammates, Giannis dunked on a dude last season and ran past the Wolves? bench and gave Bayless a non-consensual high five. He's not quite MJ levels of petty but it's there.

Wait ... what?

I've never heard of this. Are you sure it wasn't just some Rockets fans or the Rockets organization that did this?
I could see maybe the Rockets organization wanting to sooth Harden's ego by doing this (I recall seeing Morey in interviews arguing for Harden's candidacy) but not Harden himself.

[Quattro]

This "beef" is extremely one sided though. Mostly just trash talk from Giannis. I haven't heard Harden say one bad thing about the freak.

You weren’t listening closely enough.

[Shock Defeat]

Giannis is the one talking mess about Harden's defense and also elbowing him in games. Moreover he was the one that dissed Harden in the All Star draft saying he wanted someone that would pass the ball.

[mynameKIM]

All I know is that there certainly didn't seem like there was a "beef" until the 2019 offseason when Harden literally spent the entire summer whining about how he should have won the MVP.

https://www.nba.com/article/2019/08/21/james-harden-speaks-not-winning-mvp

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/2019/09/16/rockets-star-james-harden-again-questions-medias-mvp-narratives/

The thing is Harden didn't make it personal. He wanted to win MVP and thinks he deserved it. Its an understandable position.

Giannis was the one who made personal attack. He made fun of Harden's passing and defense. Thats what made this a "beef".

[sikma42]

Exactly, it seems like Giannis has the issue and Harden has been responding.

Giannis is the one talking mess about Harden's defense and also elbowing him in games. Moreover he was the one that dissed Harden in the All Star draft saying he wanted someone that would pass the ball.

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[GTR11]

If he really wants to make Harden mad, he should sign with Dallas

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[KingDavid]

If he really wants to make Harden mad, he should sign with Dallas

Read on Twitter

?s=20

That has to be fake.

That HAS to be fake.

[johanliebert]

This "beef" is extremely one sided though. Mostly just trash talk from Giannis. I haven't heard Harden say one bad thing about the freak.

yea i came in to say this after reading the poll lol.

giannis started this whole “beef”. from what i was told he tried to act “american” at times in other words cocky so he went at harden.

harden retorted with the no skill comment but this is def one sided

[God Squad]

If he really wants to make Harden mad, he should sign with Dallas

Read on Twitter

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That has to be fake.

That HAS to be fake.

I call bull.

[God Squad]

Harden doesn't like that Giannis relies less on skill and more on length/physicals. Giannis doesn't like that Harden called him out and in return called his game out during the all-star selection. Basically it's about who was the MVP. TBH I like it and hope it continues.

[benhillboy]

Y’all wake me up when Harden retires.

[ThunderBolt]

"I wish I could be 7-feet, run and just dunk. That takes no skill at all," Harden said. "I gotta actually learn how to play basketball and how to have skill. I'll take that any day."

I’m confused. Does harden wish he could be 7 feet, run and just dunk or would learning to play basketball and having skill be something that he would take all day? Which is it, James?

[JustMoe]

Obligatory:



Their "beef" is probably overstated but it's good for the league. If anything, I'd want them to ramp it up.

Just clicked on the topic to see this again Thanks Whopper_Sr!

[Sgt Major]

Read on Twitter

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That has to be fake.

That HAS to be fake.

I call bull.

Yeah, that's what MJ said in the Hawks' locker room. Fake af.

[hege53190]

Harden didn't like that Giannis was stealing his MVP, even put an add in the local Milwaukee paper abut it. Giannis holds grudges forever. He's still dealing out payback for dudes that trash talked him in his rookie year.

Jerryd Bayless was a **** to Giannis when they were teammates, Giannis dunked on a dude last season and ran past the Wolves? bench and gave Bayless a non-consensual high five. He's not quite MJ levels of petty but it's there.

Wait ... what?

I've never heard of this. Are you sure it wasn't just some Rockets fans or the Rockets organization that did this?
I could see maybe the Rockets organization wanting to sooth Harden's ego by doing this (I recall seeing Morey in interviews arguing for Harden's candidacy) but not Harden himself.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2019/03/26/james-harden-full-page-ad-journal-sentinel-appeals-mvp-case/3276373002/

Basically before a nationally televised game Adidas took out a full page ad in Milwaukee's Newspaper a year ago. It is a pretty good marketing gimmick because for the price of a local newspaper ad space you get national exposure and talked about on the pregame show. While probably not devised by Harden it doesn't get the go ahead without Harden's approval.

That along with this comment

“I’m thrilled about what we have in the locker room.”
“I feel like I’m the best player.”
“I wish I could just run and was 7-feet and run and just dunk. Like that takes no skill at all.”

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2878491-giannis-downplays-beef-with-harden-im-just-trying-to-do-my-job#:~:text=The%20Houston%20Rockets%20superstar%20reiterated,takes%20no%20skill%20at%20all.%22

If the beef is one sided it is on Harden's end.

[the sea duck]

I think it's a cold war currently.