Brooklyn’s bearded star regrets out-of-character ending to tenure with Rockets
James Harden wouldn’t go so far as to admit he disrespected the Rockets or his former teammates, but the Nets’ newest star did acknowledge he regrets how his time in Houston ended, calling it out of character.
“Yeah, I regret because I’m not the type of guy to … I don’t need the attention, especially the negative energy, the negative attention,” Harden said. “I’ve never been that guy. So there were some things that I felt like [were] out of my character.
“But the ultimate goal was to get to somewhere where I can compete, and here I am in Brooklyn. I have nothing but love and respect for that organization, that city and everything that it has ever done for me and my family. Much respect.”
Some would contend Harden showed disrespect to the Rockets by coming to camp late, (seemingly) out of shape and earning an NBA quarantine for partying maskless. He also said the Rockets weren’t good enough to win and called it a “crazy” situation that “I don’t think can be fixed.”
“I wasn’t disrespectful to anyone,” Harden insisted. “Those guys had just got there in Houston, I’ve been there for a very long time. I’ve been through all the ups and downs with that organization. And I wasn’t disrespectful toward anyone.
“I just made a comment that the team as a whole wasn’t good enough to compete for a title. And at this stage in my career where I am now, that’s what I’d love. So I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to anybody, especially not to the organization. And I’m excited to be here in Brooklyn, and excited for a new start.”
What isn’t up for debate is 1) teammates like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins felt disrespected, and 2) once the Rockets lost last season in the NBA bubble and coach Mike D’Antoni and general
manager Daryl Morey departed, Harden was intent on getting a shot at the Finals, which he never reached with Houston.
“Yeah, they were on top of my list,” Harden said. “But there were a few other teams involved as well. I mean, it could’ve gotten crazy.
“As bad as it might’ve looked from the outside, internally [Houston] worked with me and made sure I ended up here. So, much credit to them, and I’m very, very appreciative.”
From outside, the divorce looked pretty bad. It made “Marriage Story” look like a rom-com.
“It didn’t go as smooth as I would’ve loved it to go,” Harden said. “But I think both sides are happy.”
So how can the Nets know this combustible mix will work?
“I don’t read too much into that,” said general manager Sean Marks, who noted the team relied on D’Antoni, now a Nets assistant.
“James carried that team for many years, gave them everything he had,” coach Steve Nash said. “So since he asked for a trade, that’s a sample size that’s fairly irrelevant as far as judging him.”