In an emotional night, Brooklyn star James Harden received a touching tribute video, cheers, and even some boos during his first return visit to Toyota Center since being traded from the Houston Rockets.
Naturally, of course, he also brought his new team a win. In Wednesday’s 132-114 victory (box score), the Nets (24-13) won for the 10th time in 11 games, while the Rockets (11-23) suffered a 13th straight loss.
The crew led by Harden (29 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) and Kyrie Irving (24 points) simply had too much for the Rockets, who were without star center Christian Wood and only had eight active players.
Nonetheless, the real drama was in the stands and on Toyota Center’s video monitors. A perennial All-Star and MVP finalist, the Harden-era Rockets never missed the playoffs a single time in his eight years. Yet, he left on a bitter note as he leveraged his way out of town. As a result, the reception from Houston’s fans was understandably mixed, especially with their own team mired in its longest losing streak in over 20 years.
Harden, however, was clearly choosing to look at the positive. Before the game, he spent time speaking with franchise mainstays, such as general manager Rafael Stone and assistant coach John Lucas. After the win, Harden spent several minutes on the Toyota Center court interacting with his former teammates and acknowledging fans that stayed.
In a nationally televised interview on ESPN, he also credited Houston owner Tilman Fertitta with the decision to eventually retire Harden’s jersey. “Credit the ownership of the Houston Rockets, the Fertitta family, for putting my jersey in the rafters,” Harden said. “Hopefully that shows on the court, off the court, the contributions I had to this city.”
See below for a compilation of what happened in the minutes following Wednesday’s game at Toyota Center in downtown Houston. Though there were certainly some tense moments in Harden’s final weeks with the franchise, it’s clear that he and the Rockets are on good terms.
After Harden visited with some former coaches and teammates, he went to Tucker waiting on the end of the Rockets bench for a few moments, and then to John Lucas. Many hugs.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 4, 2021
James Harden heads over to the Rockets side of the floor after the final buzzer. It took awhile but he did get to P.J. Tucker pic.twitter.com/3n2ykNoZFZ
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 4, 2021
James Harden shared a lengthy embrace with P.J. Tucker near the #Rockets sidelines. He also shared a good lengthy moment with Christian Wood. https://t.co/t2xQTUCiG4
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 4, 2021
Postgame scene with Harden and his former #Rockets teammates. Lots of love here. pic.twitter.com/njEkou1aWW
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) March 4, 2021
James Harden: "Credit the ownership of the Houston Rockets, the Fertitta family, for putting my jersey in the rafters. Hopefully that shows on the court, off the court, the contributions I had to this city." #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) March 4, 2021
Quick sneaker toss from James Harden before he enters the tunnel.
We’ll see him again in 2021-22. pic.twitter.com/BVxP0yhDkl
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) March 4, 2021
After the game James Harden spends a few minutes with his former team. pic.twitter.com/RRWTDNN38d
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 4, 2021
Harden exits with the small groups of fans still here singing his name, tosses his shoes to the crowd.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 4, 2021
James Harden throws his game-worn autographed shoes and towel into the stands. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/E7GNLzzxvQ
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 4, 2021
#Nets James Harden postgame after his return to Houston (Nets won 132-114) on the fan reaction & on @TilmanJFertitta saying his jersey will be retired by #Rockets pic.twitter.com/VvKC4DyW64
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) March 4, 2021
James Harden was in a much better mood as he walked off the floor inside Toyota Center than the last time he did 50 days ago pic.twitter.com/7DVXnaWEcX
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 4, 2021
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