Former Nets star Harden: "It was just, there was no structure and even superstars, they need structure." (Now?)

So James Harden, the superstar who engineered both a trade to the Brooklyn Nets and then his departure, finally opened up Dec. 18 to Fox Sports' Yaron Weitzman, calling the last two years "a low point," drained physically from injuries and emotionally from the trades and playoff losses.

Writes Weitzman:

Recognizing that the championship window in Houston had closed, Harden pushed for a trade. He set his sights on the Nets (despite some statements to the contrary that Harden has made, at the time, Brooklyn was indeed his preferred destination, according to sources with knowledge of the trade negotiations), believing they offered him his best chance at a title. He arrived in Brooklyn in the middle of January 2021 and played MVP-level basketball. The Nets put up record offensive numbers and won 27 of their next 36 games.

But then he got injured and got hobbled again in the playoffs.

After rehabbing during the 2021 offseason, the next season went south, with Harden looking askance at fellow star Kyrie Irving's unwillingness to get vaccinated, and fellow star Kevin Durant calling Harden out of shape. 

Also, according to Weitzman, Harden "struggled to adjust to an ecosystem where everything was no longer catered to him." In other words, there was a hierarchy about stars.

No structure, then?

Asked to describe his time in Brooklyn, Harden gave a memorable dis:

"I don't mean to, like, just down talk to anybody or whatever. It was just, there was no structure and even superstars, they need structure. That's what allows us to be the best players and leaders for our respective organizations."

Is that a criticism of Coach Steve Nash--fired five days after Weitzman interviewed Harden--or GM Sean Marks? Owner Joe Tsai? Fellow stars Irving and Durant, who sought a franchise they could control? 

Maybe it's all of the above.

Harden left for Philadelphia in February, and again hopes for a title. 

Since Harden's interview, though, the Nets gained a new coach, Jacque Vaughn, who seems to have imposed some structure, and are streaking, with 12 wins in the last 15 games. At 18-12, they lead the 76ers, at 16-12, in the NBA standings.