- Tampa zoo rushes Chompers the porcupine and others to safety as Milton nears
- Shanghai stocks pare early surge on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- New Japan PM to hold talks on ASEAN sidelines
- Record number of climbers chase 14-peak dream in Tibet
- Former South Korea clinic for US 'comfort women' to be demolished
- China holds off on fresh stimulus but 'confident' will hit growth target
- Chiefs battle past Saints to stay unbeaten
- Deal on climate aid hangs in balance at UN COP29 summit
- Royals hit back against Yankees, Tigers maul Guardians
- German suspect in 'Maddie' case faces verdict in sex crimes trial
- Top economic official 'confident' China will hit 2024 growth target
- COP29 fight looms over climate funds for developing world
- Shanghai stocks soar to extend stimulus rally amid Asia-wide drop
- Australia moves to expand Antarctic marine park
- Tragedy of Madrid street sweeper highlights how heatwaves kill
- Survivors wait for aid as Trump's lies help cloud Helene response
- Fleeing Israeli bombs, Lebanon's displaced met with suspicion
- Jila Mossaed, from refugee poet to Swedish Academy
- Will Tesla's robotaxi reveal live up to hype?
- Drugs, people smuggling at heart of Mexico's raging violence
- 'Invisibility' and quantum computing tipped for physics Nobel
- Musk says he is 'all in' on Trump in US election
- Category 5 Hurricane Milton roars towards storm-battered Florida
- Carpenter bomb stuns Guardians as Tigers level series
- Harris, Trump and Biden mark Oct. 7 attacks as US election looms
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street falls
- US judge orders Google to open Android to rival app stores
- On attacks anniversary, Israel fights 'sacred' multi-front war
- Nobel scientist uncovered tiny genetic switches with big potential
- Grammy-winning Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney, dies at 91
- UN biodiversity summit in Colombia aims to turn words into action
- Georgia Supreme Court reinstates six-week abortion ban
- 'Dark day': Victims mourned around the globe on Oct. 7 anniversary
- On attacks anniversary, Israel fights multi-front war
- Mexican mayor murdered days after taking office
- Intensifying to Category 5, Hurricane Milton targets Florida
- Mission to probe smashed asteroid launches despite hurricane
- Biden, Harris mark Oct. 7 with call for Mideast peace
- Dupont set for Toulouse return after post-Olympic holiday
- French rugby bosses tighten discipline after nightmare Argentina tour
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street slips
- Visitors to get rare view of Rome's Trevi Fountain
- Europe's asteroid mission Hera launches despite hurricane
- Man City and Premier League both claim victory in legal case
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- Biden, Harris urge Mideast peace on Oct. 7 anniversary
- Neeskens, tough midfielder in Cruyff's Ajax and Dutch teams
- UN warns world's water cycle becoming ever more erratic
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street retreats
- Ex-Dutch football star Johan Neeskens dies
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Harden relishing 'perfect fit' with Sixers
James Harden said Tuesday he is relishing the prospect of getting down to work with his Philadelphia Sixers team-mates, revealing that the franchise had been his preferred destination all along.
Harden joined the Sixers from the Brooklyn Nets last week in a blockbuster trade that caps a roller-coaster 13 months since the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player left the Houston Rockets just over a year ago.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Harden said he had always wanted to join the Sixers, who believe the 10-time All-Star can turn them into championship contenders.
"Originally when I was going through everything I was going through in Houston, Philly was my first choice," Harden said. "I just knew for a very long time that this was a perfect fit."
Harden said playing alongside Sixers big man Joel Embiid in a team coached by Doc Rivers had been key attractions.
"They've got the best big man in the league in Joel, they've got the coaching, from top to bottom it just made sense," Harden said.
"I'm just happy to be here. And as Doc and everybody knows, the goal is to win and be the last team standing."
The move to Philadelphia also reunites Harden with former Houston general manager Daryl Morey, who is the Sixers president of basketball.
Morey said the recruitment of Harden would shorten the odds on Philadelphia making a run at the NBA Finals.
"The way this league works, you have to get players of the calibre of a James Harden to pair with Joel (Embiid) and Tobias (Harris)," Morey said on Tuesday.
- Perfect foil -
"You can win without it, but if you look at the history of the league you're looking at pretty long odds if you don’t have two great players of that level of play on the court.
"We are well-positioned to go on a run and a run that excites the city of Philadelphia."
Harden meanwhile believes his playing style will be the perfect foil for Embiid.
"I think we complement each other," he said. "The whole world knows how great Joel has been playing. His presence at the moment is unbelievable.
"I feel like I'm the same way as far as making my team-mates better and impacting the game at the highest level. And we have a great core of guys who can also help with that."
Harden is also looking forward to working under Sixers coach Rivers, who is chasing a first NBA title since leading Boston to the championship in 2008.
"I'm working with one of the best coaches that's ever coached basketball," Harden said. "Why wouldn't I want to be led by that? I've been doing this a long time but he's been doing it much longer and is more experienced than me.
"From what I've seen in the past couple of days everything's in place. Doc makes sure everyone knows their role in the structure. I've just got to go out there and do what I do. From my side it's pretty easy."
H.E.Young--AMWN