James Harden Relieved To Get Away from ‘Draining’ 40 Points Per Game Spell at Houston Rockets

James Harden was the hot topic of discussion throughout the offseason for demanding a trade from the Houston Rockets. While it didn’t materialize back then, it created more headlines in this trade window when it finally came to fruition.

The Beard made a name for himself in Houston, becoming the face of the franchise along the way. He redefined the way the NBA players played offense in the modern era, culminating in the 2018 MVP Title together with three consecutive scoring titles.

However, he couldn’t deliver the ultimate glory and attracted some criticism for his isolation play. So, just scoring 30-40 points per game was something he no longer took joy in.

“The situation that I was in Houston, consistently, you know every single night having to get 40 points to give ourselves a chance to win for a long stand of years is draining,” Harden told ESPN’s, Rachel Nichols.

While with the Brooklyn Nets, he can finally play with the talents that are at his wavelength. He is leading the league in assists this season. Being a facilitator to the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is now a fresh change of air from him –

“And so just to be able to have a skill set of guys that you can be a playmaker. You can get guys involved and not have to necessarily worry about scoring each possession is a bit relieving for me.”

James Harden dislikes the way his Houston Rockets exit drama unfolded

His divorce with Houston got as messy as possible. After the loss against the LA Lakers, he vocally demanded a trade, which did not sit right with either his ex-teammates or the fans. Disclosing his feelings for how things went, he said –

“I don’t like it at all; that’s not who I am. The drama… negativity for me, I don’t really like negative energy, it’s draining. So, I don’t like how it necessarily happened. I feel like it could have happened a lot smoother, a lot easier.”

Sadly though, Harden might have tarnished his legacy among his former fanbase. Having his jersey hung from the rafters is looking like an unimaginable scenario. Let’s hope with time, they mend their fences.

Read More – An Insight Into James Harden’s Infamous 2018 MVP Speech and His Dig at the NBA Awards