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All-Star point guard James Harden did not join the Houston Rockets team’s first practice in training ground for the 2020-21 season, apparently due to failing to adhere to NBA COVID-19 protocols in recent days. (He is expected to do individual training later on Sunday.)
Combine Harden’s absence with knowledge of his recent request to move to Brooklyn, and it’s easy to speculate if it was all by design as part of a plan to help him get out of Houston. But according to new backcourt teammate John Wall, that’s not the case.
After Wall’s first practice with his new team, the five-time All-Star said he had spoken with Harden since he was traded to Houston. According to Wall, he and “The Beard” want to play alongside the Rockets, and “sure” he hopes Harden will join the team in the next few days.
Among Wall’s comments:
James and I had a great talk since I was moved here. We have been friends long before this. What’s going on right now is because of the test protocol and things like that. We are going to find out what the best decision is when he wants to come and be here. We have been on the same page since I was moved here.
On whether Wall expects Harden with the Rockets this season:
For sure. That was the main reason why, speaking of this whole process of what was going to happen with this exchange, whether it happened or it didn’t happen. One of the reasons was that we wanted to play together. I have 100 percent (belief) that you want to be with this organization, see what happens with this team, and see where we can go.
Head coach Stephen Silas said early Sunday that he had not reached out to Harden in recent days, so Wall’s confirmation of their dialogue could be taken as a positive sign. Wall said he was taking a leadership role in Houston, and perhaps his first contribution on that front could be spreading the word about the tense situation involving Harden.
Now 30, Wall played nine seasons in Washington since he was chosen number one in the 2010 NBA draft. The 6.4-foot guard averaged 19.0 points (43.3% field) and 9.2 assists in 35.9 minutes per game.
