After holding out for several days, Houston Rockets’ superstar James Harden finally joined the team for training camp. Harden also made his preseason debut on Tuesday, playing in a 112-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Harden opted not to be in Houston for the start of the training camp, with sources describing his absence as a “holdout” in attempts to force a trade. The 31-year-old previously told the Rockets that he wants out as he believes the team isn’t competitive enough.
However, the Rockets took a patient approach and reportedly are not prepared to trade their best player unless they receive appropriate compensation. Harden eventually caved in and ended his holdout although nothing changed about his intention to leave the franchise.
In his first preseason outing, Harden spent 21 minutes on the floor and had a rough shooting night, hitting three out of his 10 shots. He still managed to put up 12 points to go with three rebounds and four assists.
The performance still pleased Rockets’ new head coach Stephen Silas, who was happy to see Harden out on the floor.
“He was good,” said Silas after the game. “I mean, he’s obviously a great player and can do so many things on the floor, on and off the ball. Defensively, he has great hands and makes plays, and is smart. So to have him out there was great.”
James Harden should get comfortable in Houston again, as there is a big chance he won’t be leaving the organization anytime soon despite his wishes. The Rockets reportedly have high demands that teams have been unwilling to meet so far. This includes getting back a young franchise star, a promising role player, and a chest of draft picks.
