James Harden intends to decline his 2023-24 player option with the Philadelphia 76ers and enter unrestricted NBA free agency this summer and it appears the superstar guard is headed back to the Houston Rockets.
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harden is expected to sign with the Rockets, the team he played nine years for.
“The belief among NBA executives is that James Harden will rejoin the Houston Rockets this summer,” Pompey wrote. “Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta ‘loves’ the 76ers point guard. The franchise expects to reunite with him, sources say. Before the Rockets hired Ime Udoka on April 25, head coaching candidates were asked for their opinion on coaching Harden during the interview process, according to sources.
“Sources have said his interest in returning to Houston is mutual and not a ploy to get a lucrative deal out of the Sixers. His mother still lives in the city. He has several business ventures there. And, as one source said, ‘he’s treated like a god in Houston.'”
Harden is one of the greatest players in Rockets franchise history. He’s first all-time in 3-point field goals, free throws, assists, triple-doubles, points per game, player efficiency rating, offensive win shares and box plus-minus.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers & Houston Rockets Updates
During the 2017-18 season, Harden averaged 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists, winning the MVP Award and leading the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals. However, the Golden State Warriors defeated Houston in seven games.
Harden requested a trade from the Rockets in 2020-21 and was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The 10-time All-Star played in 80 games with the Nets before getting traded to the Sixers in 2021-22. Harden averaged 21.0 points and 10.7 assists this season for Philadelphia. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers & Houston Rockets Updates
The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games and fired Doc Rivers as head coach. If Harden leaves Philly for Houston, the Sixers will need to find another star for Joel Embiid to play with.