In a new episode of Rockets All Access, superstar guard James Harden tells the story of exactly when and how he learned that Houston could land his close friend Russell Westbrook by trade.
In the AT&T SportsNet Southwest program, which premiered just before Monday night’s preseason opener, Harden told his story.
It started in the early morning hours [for Harden] of July 6, when word first leaked that the Oklahoma City Thunder had agreed to trade Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers — where George would then team up with free agent Kawhi Leonard. Harden explains:
I was in Barcelona [Spain], and it was like 3 in the morning, and the news had broke. I was like, ‘Is this possible? What’s going on? Like, how did this come out of nowhere?’ Just like everybody else was thinking.
And then I got a call, from Russ. And then, right then at that moment, I knew that we had a chance.
The trade of Westbrook to Houston (for Chris Paul and draft picks) became official just a few days later on Thursday, July 11.
“We’re going to always stick our foot in every door, and sometimes we get to bash it in,” GM Daryl Morey said on the show, referring to Houston’s frequent offseason approach of seeking out superstar talents. “Russell is one of these all-time great talents.”
The complete “season preview” episode of Rockets All Access will be re-aired several times this week, with days and times available on the programming schedule at the network’s website.
Westbrook did not play in Monday night’s preseason opener for the Rockets at Toyota Center, but he is expected to return next week and make his Houston debut.
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