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James Harden # 13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on 12 September 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images / AFP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) – James Harden ended his resistance to training camp, but that hasn’t ended the controversy surrounding the disgruntled Houston Rockets star.
The 31-year-old American seems likely to start the season with the Rockets despite a trade demand from the team he has spent the past eight years with.
Harden was late to the Rockets’ training camp and must have six negative Covid-19 tests in a row before the league clears him to practice or play with the team.
He wasn’t in the lineup when the Rockets opened the preseason with a 125-104 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
It was one of five contests to start the preseason after the shortest offseason in NBA history. Just two months have passed since the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th NBA title by beating the Miami Heat in six games.
Harden has reportedly applied to be traded to a competitor. Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Miami and Milwaukee are among the teams he could end up with if the Rockets grant him his wish.
His future with the Rockets turned murky with the resignation of head coach Mike D’Antoni at the end of last season.
Then new Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas traded Harden’s teammate Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for John Wall. They also signed free agents Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins.
However, Silas is hopeful that Harden will stay with the team.
“I’m sure he’ll be all-in,” Silas said immediately after the Westbrook trade.
That’s where I leave it. Like I said, I’m giving him the space to do his thing, but I’m sure he’ll be here when we start. “
Harden has led the NBA in scoring in each of the last three seasons.
Last season, he averaged 34.3 points per game, but it also reinforced his reputation as an underperforming playoff player, as his one-season association with Westbrook did not pay off with postseason success.
The Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round when they lost in five games to the Lakers.
Harden has not spoken publicly since the reports, but others have.
Former NBA player Stephen Jackson criticized Harden recently saying he doesn’t want to be responsible for the Rockets’ wins or losses.
“It’s simple, James Harden doesn’t want to be held accountable,” Jackson said on social media.
“D’Antoni is the worst defensive coach in NBA history … James is trying to stay close to D’Antoni so he can’t be held accountable.”
In other opening night exhibition games on Friday, the New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 90-84 and the Orlando Magic dropped the Atlanta Hawks 116-112.
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