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James Harden vs. Houston Rockets. Return coming? (Reuters)
Are we headed for a big comeback in the NBA? According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski tonight (Sunday) on ESPN, James Harden (33) is seriously considering a return to Houston in the summer, with the end of his contract in Philadelphia. The player, who will be free starting this July, will choose whether to extend his tenure at the Wells Fargo Center now that the option of returning to Texas seems more realistic than ever.
The bearded man joined Philadelphia last season in the famous trade with the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Blacks received Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and two first-round picks, and he, for his part, signed a two-year contract with the Sixers during which he will earn $68.6 million and entered a player option for the 2023/24 season, which, as mentioned, he is considering exercising in order to leave the East in favor of a comeback to the West.
It will be interesting to see what Harden decides in the summer. Philadelphia’s professional team led by general manager Darryl Murray and coach Doc Rivers invested a lot and gave up significant assets to bring him and gave him a central spot on the roster alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. According to the report, he is still a top priority to extend his contract with the team, but professional success this season will be a decisive factor in the decision.
Harden played for the Rockets from the 2012 season to the 2021 season, when during these years he recorded his record season in the league in terms of points, with an amazing average of 36.1 points per game, when at the end of that season he won his only MVP title in the league. He also achieved his record achievement at the team level in the red uniform, when he reached the Western Conference Finals together with Chris Paul and the team.
