After his delayed arrival at training camp for the 2020-21 NBA season, Houston star James Harden has progressed to individual workouts at Toyota Center, according to Rockets head coach Stephen Silas.
Because Harden did not operate within the NBA’s timeline for reporting or its recommended safety protocols when away from the court, the league effectively has a customized program for him. As a result, it isn’t entirely known when he will hit various benchmarks to move forward in activity.
According to media reports, he needs six negative COVID-19 tests on different days in order to rejoin his teammates for group activites. Since Harden didn’t report until Tuesday, that makes next Monday (Dec. 14) the soonest date that he could become a full practice participant, and it rules him out for this weekend’s preseason games in Chicago.
In the meantime, however, Harden is able to gradually ramp up his own activities while away from the team. According to Silas and backcourt mate John Wall, that includes individual workouts.
Regarding Harden, here’s what Silas said Thursday:
As far as I know, he’s been in the testing protocol and doing his thing. Now, he’s able to do individual workouts. Today [Thursday] was a little bit of a crazy day, so I haven’t been able to connect with him. But I’m looking forward to getting him on the court with the team and we’ll start our relationship there. But it’s moving in the right direction, and it’s very good.
Stephen Silas on James Harden: "As far as I know, he's been in the testing protocol and doing his thing. Now he's able to do individual workouts… It's moving in the right direction and it's very good." pic.twitter.com/2mCTUY8gKA
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) December 10, 2020
John Wall said he spoke with James Harden "the other day" and that Harden had a good workout with John Lucas.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 10, 2020
In his separate media session, Wall said Harden had worked out with assistant coach and apparent confidant John Lucas.
Silas didn’t completely commit to Monday being the date for Harden to rejoin his teammates, since obviously it depends on a number of factors — most notably, whether he continues to test negative. But that’s certainly the goal, and it could put “The Beard” on course to make his preseason debut when the Rockets host San Antonio next Tuesday night.
“He’s following the protocol,” Silas said of Harden. “When he’s done with the protocol, he’ll be in practice.”
