James Harden has spoken — just not with the Rockets GM.
The former MVP spoke to the media for the first time on Wednesday after holding out from Rockets training camp. Harden said that “right now” he is concentrating on the Rockets as he tries to force a trade out of Houston, with the Nets and 76ers among his potential destinations.
Harden was asked if he trusted new general manager Rafael Stone as much as he did Stone’s predecessor Daryl Morey, who left for the 76ers this offseason. Harden said he has yet to have a conversation with Stone.
Harden shed little light on how he was spending time when the Rockets first met for individual workouts last week. Photos and video had surfaced of Harden enjoying the nightlife in Atlanta and Las Vegas, but the star guard claimed his “personal trainers” were in those two cities.
Harden played his first game of the preseason on Tuesday night, scoring 12 points in 21 minutes in the Rockets’ 112-98 win over the Spurs.
Harden spoke on the same day a biting piece on ESPN was published that painted both him and the franchise in a negative light.
“If they have multiple days off, everybody knows: James is going to fly somewhere else and party,” a member of last season’s coaching staff told the site. “But he’s going to come back and have a 50-point triple-double, so they’re OK with it.”





