Rockets: James Harden ‘Definitely’ Will Retire Here
The countdown is on Houston Rockets’ fans!
We have six days to go and the regular season can’t get here faster enough!
I can’t wait to see the cohesive unit of the players that the team has brought back as well as the additions that were made in the off season.
Now mind you, the off season wasn’t the blockbuster-type that we’ve had in past years such as the acquisition of James Harden or the harpooning of Dwight Howard but it was notable.
Notable that we were able to land one of the league’s most-talented point guards in Ty Lawson.
A guy that can score and dish like none other, there’s definitely room on the Rockets’ burgeoning roster for such talent.
As expected, Patrick Beverley will take the wheel at point guard — he’s earned that right — but Lawson will likely be the first guy called off the bench when the time is appropriate.
I can see it now — that’s going to be a hell of tandem that we’ll have at that position this season.
I’m certainly making a personal toast to their health this season as they’ll be integral to the team’s success.
Kevin McHale should feel like a kid on Christmas Day who just amassed a whole bunch of toys to play with.
That’s how I envision it — but let’s hope that he uses them wisely.
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But back to the Beard…
He has had an amazing season and although it ended with quite a brackish taste in his mouth, he can stand proud knowing that he just completed the best season of his career.
And there’s more in store because he’s not done with mission to deliver H-Town a championship, one this city has been starved of for more than 20 years.
Not only that but he’s here for the long-haul.
Last week, Harden sat down with the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen to talk about everything from his $200 million deal with Adidas to his relationship with the Kardashians.
He was asked if he had plans to end his career as a Rocket and Harden replied to Feigen unequivocally and without hesitation with the word “definitely.”
He also added that it will “definitely end here.”
That’s strong words from a guy who’s only 26-years-old, a multi-millionaire, a shrewd businessman and is still building a brand for himself.
It’s so rare to see a NBA player of his stature that is firmly committed to be loyal to just one franchise, rather than moving around to chase a ring.
It’s slippery-slope when you start ring-chasing, hopping from team-to-team when the outcome certainly isn’t guaranteed.
But for Harden, the confidence that he emanates that he can do it here goes to show he’s up for the challenge and wants to be cemented as not only one of the greatest Rockets’ of all-time but one of the greatest shooting guards EVER in professional basketball.
Harden is locked up with the Rockets until the 2017-18 season and I’m positive the franchise will work to sign him to another fat extension to keep him here throughout the duration of his career.
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I’ve seen immense maturity of our superstar — he has evolved from a guy who seemed quite ego-centric at first glace in his younger days to one that truly has shown that he has embraced the “team-first” philosophy.
I’m telling you — something changed Harden when he participated in the FIBA World Championships last summer as he has been a different type of player ever since.
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I think working with Mike Krzyzewski did wonders for him seeing the game of basketball in an entirely new way as he had the opportunity to be showcased on a global stage.
He’ll never be same again and that only mean good things for the Rockets.
So as we transition into the regular season, keep your eye on the Beard and how he handles himself this season, it will certainly be a season of continuity as well as evolution as he becomes even better than once was.
It’s just good to know that he’ll be around for awhile.
Go Rockets.