The motivation for the recent trade request by Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets aren’t entirely clear. But the nine-time NBA All-Star and 2017 MVP is denying that co-star James Harden is a key reason.
Earlier Thursday, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith discussed what he had heard about the ongoing situation and said “Russell Westbrook and James Harden don’t want to play with each other anymore.”
A few hours later, underneath ESPN’s Instagram graphic showing that quote, the 32-year-old Westbrook replied:
It’s my birthday, but I should say. This is completely fabricated. Y’all have a good night.
Russell Westbrook responds to the idea that he and James Harden don't want to play together anymore:
"It's my birthday, but I should say. This is completely fabricated. Y'all have a good night."#Rockets #OneMission pic.twitter.com/SsC83vHmzZ
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) November 13, 2020
It’s worth remembering that Westbrook did not appear to be denying the initial trade request. (To this point, he hasn’t commented on that.)
Rather, Westbrook is denying that his basketball relationship with Harden is the primary reason. Westbrook and Harden are close friends, of course, dating back to their playing days in Oklahoma City from 2009 through 2012. Moreover, their friendship was a big part of Westbrook’s rationale for desiring the July 2019 trade to Houston in the first place.
Westbrook is under contract for at least two more seasons, so the Rockets are not under significant pressure to move him. Despite the request to leave, Houston certainly has the option to try and restore the relationship — and his bond with Harden could be an important first step.
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