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Every year in the NBA, some of the most anticipated games on the NBA calendar are “revenge games.” Typically, revenge games are where a superstar player playing on a new team returns to his old stadium to play the old team that he used to lead.
Sometimes, players are welcomed home with open arms and are celebrated for what they accomplished on their old teams. Other times, though, stars and teams ended their relationship on a sour note, making a player’s return less than pretty. If a player demands a trade or unexpectedly leaves in free agency, a fan base will oftentimes despise that player and make their feelings well known when that player returns to face his old team.
In revenge games, NBA fans will boo louder than ever, but the recipient of the boos will usually play their heart out to ensure a big performance and metaphorically rub salt in the wound of a disappointed fanbase/organization.
James Harden, who was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of this season, returned to Philadelphia on March 27. Harden’s fallout with the 76ers was ugly. Harden believed he was lied to when he wasn’t given a big extension from the team, and it led to him publicly demanding a trade on multiple occasions. While being booed heavily, Harden helped his Clippers beat the 76ers 108-107 in Philly.
In this article, we are going to rank the five most iconic NBA revenge games ever. These players all left their teams in less than ideal circumstances, but they certainly displayed their talent when first returning to their old stomping grounds.