“Come back home” – Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. PLEADS James Harden’s comeback to Houston
James Harden would be changing to a third team in three seasons if he moves back to the Rockets
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James Harden
The Houston Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. feels that James Harden should return to the Rockets to turn the franchise around. Harden signed a two year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022 with year two being a player option. Harden has reportedly declined the player option and is waiting for a better offer from Philly and sources have hinted at a reunion in Houston.
Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. spoke on the Harden situation, saying – “Come back home. He did so much for that city; there’s still so much love for him in Houston.” James Harden was a star for the Houston Rockets, spending nine seasons there, winning a league MVP and multiple scoring titles for the franchise. Smith Jr. feels that Harden could elevate Houston’s young core and bring back his success with them in the 2010s.
“It would definitely feel like home for him if he came back,” added Jabari Smith Jr, as Harden has not been the same player ever since he left the Rockets in 2021. Harden was the scoring champion of the league in 19/20; the season before he left for the Brooklyn Nets, he has never averaged over 25 points per game again. The Houston Rockets is a team where Harden would be the sole superstar again, and Smith Jr. feels the city would love for him to return and ‘feel home’ again.
James Harden and Kyrie Irving are the two names on the Houston Rockets mind
The former duo in Brooklyn broke up their band with Kevin Durant in 2022 after a series of trade requests and a fallout in the organization. However, after Harden suffered another playoff exit due to his underperformance in game 7, the Sixers are reluctant to offer him an improved deal. Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks did not even make the playoffs, and the Mavs and Kyrie are going into this off-season as an unrestricted free agent.
Kyrie Irving might not be getting the love from the city like James Harden would, but he performs at a higher rate than the Beard. Irving averaged 27 points per game for the Dallas Mavericks in his short time there and was an all-star in the 2022/23 season. Harden did lead the league in assists this year but showed in the playoffs that he could have 40-point games when Joel Embiid was injured.
James Harden had a prolific career at Houston, averaging 29 points per game over nine seasons and winning three consecutive scoring titles. The Rockets are in the middle of a rebuild with a solid young core, and Harden could be the veteran scorer to lead them to success. Despite doubts about his fitness, the organization and the player certainly feel that there is a good fit. Still, with Irving on the market and Harden having title aspirations, this deal could fall apart very quickly.
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Anuj Shrikanth Iyer
(290 Articles Published)