Tyrese Maxey Calls Out Stephen A. for James Harden-Doc Rivers Rumor After Spat in 76ers vs. Cavs

Tyrese Maxey pushed back on comments ESPN's Stephen A. Smith made during Friday's episode of First Take stemming from a spat that occurred in the Philadelphia 76ers' comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Smith said on the show that Maxey "went to (then-Sixers head coach) Doc Rivers' crib damn near crying" about the lack of effort from Harden in their 2023 playoff loss to the Boston Celtics.

Maxey caught wind of that statement and clarified that he has "never even been" to Rivers' house.

Harden's playoff shortcomings over the course of his career have been well-documented, including the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Celtics.

The 11-time All-Star had two stellar performances in the series with more than 40 points in Games 1 and 5, both Sixers wins, but he followed it up by scoring a combined 22 points on 7-of-27 shooting (1-of-11 from three) with 16 assists and 10 turnovers in Games 6 and 7.

Game 7 wound up being Harden's final appearance with the 76ers. He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in November 2023 after public spat with the organization that included him calling then-president of basketball operations Daryl Morey "a liar."

Philadelphia fans have not warmed up to Harden in the three years since he left. He was showered with boos by the crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena whenever he touched the ball on Thursday night.

Maxey and Harden briefly got into it in the fourth quarter of Thursday's game. Both players shoved each other before officials and other players stepped in to break it up.

Things went in Maxey's favor on Thursday, as the Sixers erased a 29-point deficit to steal a 114-106 win over the Cavs. He finished with a team-high 32 points in 42 minutes.

Harden finished with 16 points, six turnovers and five assists in the loss.