Last year, after a season-and-a-half with the team, the Philadelphia 76ers traded former MVP James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. This move paired Harden with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and former teammate Russell Westbrook. Though many expected the Clippers to land Harden, there were other teams reportedly linked to him. This included the Houston Rockets, Harden’s team for parts of nine seasons. Ultimately, the reunion never came to fruition, though it was seemingly a real possibility.
Recently, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka revealed that he urged Harden not to join the Rockets prior to his trade to the Clippers. According to Udoka, via Sam Amick of The Athletic (subscription required), Harden had interest in returning to Houston. However, Udoka told Harden he deserved a shot at a championship, something the Rockets were unable to provide at the time.
“My main thing for us was, ‘What fits best with our young guys to continue to grow?’” Udoka said. “But also, out of respect for James, (I told him), ‘You’re at the stage where you want to win, and we’re not there yet.’ And it wasn’t just James. I had five, six veteran guys who went to championship-level teams who wanted to come (that summer), and I said the same thing to all of them.
“They all went to other places, but they had Golden State, Milwaukee, Phoenix and all these teams (wanting them) to come. But I told them, ‘We’re not there. Go try to win a championship.’ And so, it’s just about fit and where we’re at. … Our (young) guys needed the reps.”
Ime Udoka Shut Down James Harden-Houston Rockets Reunion
The Houston Rockets Have Fared Well Without James Harden
Despite Udoka’s message to Harden at the time, the Rockets have emerged as a potential contender in the West. Last season, the Rockets finished as the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. However, with a late-season push, they nearly grabbed a Play-In spot, which exceeded expectations. The Rockets have since continued riding their momentum. This season, the Rockets are 17-9 and own the No. 3 seed in the conference. Additionally, they have the second-best defensive rating in the league, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. As it stands, they are firmly in the playoff picture.
As for the Clippers, they are holding their own. After losing George to the 76ers this offseason, many expected a setback for the team. This became especially true after Leonard’s knee injury that has left him sidelined to begin the campaign. However, the Clippers are currently 14-12 and own the No. 9 seed in the West. Much of this has to do with Harden stepping it up and turning back the clock a bit.
On the season, Harden is averaging 21.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
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Over the summer, Harden signed a two-year, $70 million contract to remain with the Clippers. His deal does include a $36.3 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season, however. The 35-year-old is past his MVP-caliber days. But there is no denying he is still a great basketball player. As he approaches the end of his NBA career, Harden is proving he can still provide value to a contending team.
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