James Harden’s antics should make him less and less attractive to NBA contenders

James Harden is one of the most talented basketball players of his generation. He is a three-time scoring champion and MVP. But his recent self-sabotage should make any NBA contender think twice before bringing him on board.

Harden added the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat to his preferred list of business destinations, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are also on his list.

Through Wednesday, Harden was absent from the Rockets’ training camp. New head coach Stephen Silas said his star player was holding out. Harden has finally briefed the team, and must now produce six negative COVID-19 tests in a row, per league protocols. Could be cleared to practice on Monday.

The most indefensible part of Harden’s rejection was his unapologetic disregard for the COVID-19 guidelines. A week before training camps were to open, the NBA required players to quarantine themselves outside of trips to team facilities and essential activities. Harden didn’t follow those rules at all. Last weekend, he was seen at a busy birthday party for Atlanta rapper Lil Baby, and he was not seen wearing a mask in the photos.

Harden was also apparently partying at a nightclub in Las Vegas.

The Harden saga began making headlines last month, when it was first reported that he was trying to make his way to Brooklyn, where he could team up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Since then, Harden has been increasingly open about his apparent desire to leave Houston. It started with a cryptic video on Instagram and culminated in her resistance.

With two guaranteed years remaining on his contract, Harden is trying to fully assert his power. It’s reminiscent of when Anthony Davis forced the Pelicans to trade him to the Lakers, even though he had several years left on his contract.

But there is a significant difference between the Harden and Davis situations. The Rockets have continually tried to build a championship contender around Harden, while the Pelicans only made the playoffs twice with Davis in seven years.

Houston has surrounded Harden with three fellow All-Star racers: Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and, most recently, Russell Westbrook. Those combinations have not worked. Last week, the Rockets traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for John Wall, who has not played in two seasons due to an Achilles rupture. Harden reportedly prefers Wall to Westbrook, but the trade apparently didn’t move him to show up and be with his teammates.

The Rockets are always trying to placate Harden, even when he tries to sabotage them.

Houston deserves some blame for the current stalemate. Owner Tilman Fertitta played rough with Mike D’Antoni during contract negotiations and ultimately presided over a flawed team. The Rockets have also lost their architect. Daryl Morey is the Sixers’ new president of basketball operations.

On the court, Harden has certainly delivered. He has established himself as one of the best players in the league and made the All-Star Team eight times. In each of the past three seasons, Harden has led the NBA in scoring. He won the MVP award in 2018.

But the Rockets fall short and Harden bears much of the blame. He notoriously disappears in elimination games, winning one of his last seven affairs. There was his 2-for-11 performance in Game 6 of the 2017 semifinals; his 12-of-29 effort in Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals; his 11-for-25 performance in Game 6 of the 2019 semifinals; and his 2-of-11 outing this year in Game 4 of the semifinals against the Lakers.

Harden’s extended history of postseason failures should have already made contenders distrust him. Championships are commonplace in the NBA, and right now, Harden doesn’t have the hardware to back up his antics.

He wants to get out of Houston, but he’s making it difficult for the Rockets. The end result can be a sulky superstar and a mediocre team. Nobody benefits in that situation, especially Harden.