As James Harden prepares to face his former team for the first time since he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, the superstar’s guard reflected on his eight-year tenure with the Houston Rockets and said that when he enters Wednesday night at the Toyota Center in Houston (7:30 pm ET on ESPN), he hopes to be “received with love.”
“The love and esteem I have given to this city and still give to this city, I hope the favor can be returned,” Harden told ESPN in an extensive interview.
There were months of tension that led to the four-team deal on Jan. 13 that sent Harden to Brooklyn, his favorite destination.
In July, Harden turned down a $ 103 million two-year overtime offer from the Rockets, making it clear he felt the franchise window to compete for a championship had closed. The Houston head office hoped to repair the relationship and convince Harden that the Rockets could be competitive, but Harden never hesitated, reiterating his desire to leave. When the Rockets began training camp, photos appeared on social media of the Harden party in Atlanta and Houston.
“I thought I would never leave this franchise,” Harden said. “I thought I would go to Houston, obviously, for the rest of my career. Things happened. I have different goals and I’ve seen a different vision for myself, for my career, and for my family.”
He continued: “Like I said, it doesn’t change how I feel about the city. But it didn’t go as well, as smoothly as I had planned. Communication between me and the front desk I was a little unstable. And now I look back and see these other scenarios, other situations that are happening, specifically around other players who are in Houston, in different sports.And their transition is going very well.I have hoped that mine will be so smooth, but he didn’t. I’m where I am now. “
Harden added that he is “very, very happy and excited” for the direction the Nets have been heading since his arrival, and reiterated that he wants the best Rockets franchise.
Finally, the Rockets plan to remove James Harden’s No. 13 jersey. Rocket owner Tilman Fertitta told the Houston Chronicle, “James Harden will always be a rocket.”
Now, Harden is returning to Houston as a result of the city and its surrounding areas, being devastated by a winter storm that left millions without electricity or heat as temperatures dropped. The storm caused some families to run out of food and others to flee to emergency shelters.
Harden said he has been on the phone every day to help Houston residents. Through his new restaurant, “Thirteen,” he sent 3,000 meals to Houstonians. Harden said he has sent water cases to the city and is working with plumbers to help those whose pipes have been frozen and burst.
“I feel like a part of the community,” Harden said. “I now that I’m in Brooklyn, it hasn’t changed the way I feel about this city and everything that’s been done for me. So, whether it’s trying to feed as many people as I can, get water, as much water as to the people who need it. “
Since arriving in Brooklyn, Harden has thrived, averaging 25.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists for the Nets. Harden has played 21 games in total in Brooklyn and finished with a triple-double in seven of them. Only Jason Kidd has had more in a single season in Nets history.
Still, Nets ’big Harden grandchildren Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have played just seven games together.
“I’m excited for us, in general, to be able to play as many games as we can together, because the potential we have is very, very scary,” Harden said. “We are still doing what it takes to win … The potential will be more terrifying when [Durant] come back. But right now we are holding it together and meeting as a team. “