Rockets’ Harden takes questions, says little
After reportedly looking for a way out of Houston and skipping the start of Rockets training camp, James Harden finally took questions from the media Wednesday while hardly clearing up what has become a sticky situation.
The eight-time All- Star finally took the court Tuesday night for the first time under new Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. He had 12 points and four assists in 21 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs and said it felt good to be on the court again.
Whether or not he will continue to take the court for the team remains an unanswered question.
“Right now, I’m just focused on being here,” Harden said. “Today was good. Yesterday felt really good being out there for the first time since the bubble. I haven’t really had an opportunity to do a lot of five- onfive work. But for my first time being out there, I felt pretty good.”
As for his whereabouts during his early absence f r om training c amp, Harden offered little details. He went to Las Vegas and posted pictures on social media attending the birthday party of rapper Lil Baby in Atlanta.
“I was just training,” Harden said when asked if he was trying to make a point about being elsewhere at the start of camp.
According to ESPN, Harden’s preferred trade destinations are to the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets not only have a new coach, they traded superstar Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in an intriguing deal that brought back another superstar in guard John Wall.
It seems a long shot that Wall and Harden become the next tag-team duo in Houston, although Harden said Wednesday that he has not talked to new general manager Rafael Stone about the matter.
“Since I’ve been here, there’s nothing that’s been said about it,” said Harden, who did not arrive in Houston until Dec. 8, two days after training camp started. He did not set foot into camp until Monday once he was cleared to practice.
“Everybody in the locker room and the coaching staff has been focused on ramping up and preparing for the season,” Harden said. “So, that’s all that matters.” HORNETS’HAYWARDBREAKS PINKY >> Hornets forward Gordon Hayward is listed as day to day after breaking the bone at the base of his right pinky finger.
The team says Hayward sustained an avulsion fracture of his fifth metacarpal on the right hand during the team’s preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 14. Hayward will miss Thursday’s preseason game at Orlando but the Hornets say he will not need surgery.