Harden still “holds a grudge” against the Thunder

"I feel very hurt, really sad." In the latest episode of "Starting5" on October 16, James Harden recalled the phone call when he was traded to the Rockets by the Thunder in 2012, with a hint of regret in his tone. Thirteen years have passed, and the young sixth man has grown up. For the league MVP, but the sting of that moment never seems to be really far away

Back in October 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder's management made a phone call that changed the league's landscape. On the other end of the phone, the 23-year-old Harden had just helped the team win the Western Conference championship and was looking forward to it. Fighting for the championship with the brothers in the new season, on the other end of the phone, the Thunder management made a ruthless decision: they traded Harden to the Houston Rockets, "We love you, but we traded you to Houston." Such farewell words sounded full of irony to Harden. Just before the transaction occurred, Harden's continued relationship with the Thunder Contract negotiations have reached an impasse. The Thunder offered a four-year contract of US$52 million to US$56 million, while Harden's team insisted on a four-year maximum salary of US$60 million. The difference of only US$4 million seemed insignificant, but it became an insurmountable gap between the two parties. Thunder general manager Sam Presti was under salary pressure. And considering team building, they finally decided to tear up Ma Su and send Harden away

On October 28, 2012, this deal that shocked the league was officially reached. The Thunder sent Harden, Cole Aldridge, Lazar Hayward and Daqun Cook to the Rockets in exchange for Kevin. Martin, rookie Jeremy Lamb and two first-round and one second-round picks. The Thunder's choice has its own rational considerations. They just signed Ibaka for 4 years and $50 million in the summer. The team's salary space is indeed stretched, but from Harden's perspective, this is undoubtedly a betrayal. As the "Best Sixth Man" last season, he averaged Contributed 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists, with a shooting percentage of 49.1%. More importantly, the "Thunder Three" triangle combination formed by him, Durant and Westbrook has shown amazing potential. He just led the team to win the Western Conference championship last season. The combination of youth and talent was divided due to financial considerations. Collapse

After being traded to the Rockets, Harden did not sink into frustration. Instead, he turned this "grudge" into motivation for moving forward. The Rockets had high hopes for the young man and immediately signed a five-year maximum salary contract of US$78.5 million to US$80 million with him to join the Rockets. In his first game, Harden shocked the entire league. Against the Pistons, he scored 37 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. He became the first player in NBA history to score 30+ points and 10+ assists in his team's debut. Two days later, against the Hawks, he scored 45 points. In the first two games, he scored 82 points in total. points, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's scoring record in the first two games of joining a new team. In more than eight seasons with the Rockets, Harden completed a magnificent transformation from the top sixth man to the league MVP: he was selected to the All-Stars eight times, was selected to the All-NBA Team seven times, and won the scoring title three times. In the 2017-18 season, Harden averaged contributions per game. With 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists, he led the Rockets to the best record in team history of 65 wins and 17 losses. He was also elected as the regular season MVP without any suspense. During his years with the Rockets, Harden set countless jaw-dropping records. On January 31, 2018, he faced the Magic. With his skills, Harden scored 60 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve a 60+ triple-double. In the 2018-19 season, he even averaged 36.1 points per game. This was the highest score since Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 points per game in the 1986-87 season. He had 32 consecutive games. He scored 30+ points in games, scored 50+ triple-doubles twice in a single season, and used countless step-back three-pointers and "foul-making" skills to redefine the modern offensive model. During his time with the Rockets, he led the team to enter the playoffs every year and twice entered the Western Conference Finals, but was always one step away from the finals

Although Harden has achieved great personal success in the Rockets, he has never been able to lead the team over the mountain of the Warriors, which also makes the "unfinished revenge" always hang in his heart. The Thunder in 2012 had a bright future, Durant's unstoppable pull-up, Westbrook's explosive impact, and Harden's all-round team. As an organization, the trio could have maintained strong competitiveness in the next few years. However, after the transaction, the Thunder never returned to the Finals, and Harden never won the O'Brien Cup. This lose-lose ending may be Harden's deepest regret.

That phone call thirteen years ago became Harden's career At the turning point of his career, he turned his inner pain into motivation to move forward, and used the doubts from the Thunder management as fuel to prove himself. That unhealed scar may be the secret fire that drove him to grow from the best sixth man to the league's MVP. Some resentment can destroy a person; some resentment can forge a person