James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers presents his sneakers to John Hao after Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series, Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Philadelphia. Harden invited Hao, a student seriously injured in the February 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University, to watch the game.
Matt Slocum/AP
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Matt Slocum/AP
James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers presents his sneakers to John Hao after Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series, Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Philadelphia. Harden invited Hao, a student seriously injured in the February 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University, to watch the game.
Matt Slocum/AP
Philadelphia 76ers player James Harden kept his word by inviting John Hao, a victim of the Michigan State University shooting, to a game and closing the deal by gifting him a pair of sneakers. signed.
Hao, an international student from China, attended Michigan State University and was paralyzed in February after a gunman on campus shoot and kill three people and injured five others.
After learning that 20-year-old Hao was a fan, Harden FaceTimed him and donated money and shoes, and promised to take him to a match.
On Sunday, Harden, after a 42-point performance in Game 4 of a play-off win over the Boston Celtics, took off his sneakers, signed them and presented them to Hao, who was sitting on the sidelines.
“You look fine,” Harden tells Hao, and pats him on the shoulder.
Harden also hit the mark to send Sunday’s game into extra time, and ultimately won the match. On a social media postsHarden asked Hao to return to Philadelphia for Game 6 of the series.
“I don’t know what you’re going to do or what your schedule is like, but Game 6 you have to come back here,” said Harden. “Because you’re a lucky charm.”
Hao, 20, has been receiving physical therapy since the shooting and was able to attend the match after being given permission to travel by medical professionals.
