Such is often the case in high-profile NBA deals: rumours of unhappiness long precede any official trade calls taking place. It happened when Vince Carter wanted out of Toronto, his on-court performances doing as much of the talking as his post-game interviews. It happened with Kawhi Leonard, whose quiet dissatisfaction with the San Antonio Spurs’ handling of his chronic quad injury was one of the few details leaked to the public, and eventually became a contributing factor in his trade to the Toronto Raptors.
And it happened for Harden in the weeks leading up to his blockbuster acquisition by the Brooklyn Nets this season, with reports swirling about the specific nature of why he wanted out. On Friday, he explained it in his own words.
“After the bubble, after that loss, I just wanted to re-evaluate my career and the team and the direction that the organization was going,” Harden told reporters during his first media availability as a member of the Nets. “You look from top to bottom, from the general manager leaving, to Mike D’Antoni leaving, to re-evaluating our personnel and seeing if we had enough to compete with the best teams in the league. As time went on, free agency and that started to go on, it was like, well, I felt like we didn’t have a chance.”
The Rockets’ post-season shortcomings have been a recurring issue for the team during Harden’s tenure — not a one-off event in the NBA’s bubble. Harden’s box-score performances were predictably stellar. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds across 85 post-season appearances with Houston. But only twice in his eight Rockets seasons did his on-court excellence, and Houston’s willingness to mould their team to fit his strengths, result in Conference Finals appearances — and a pair of losses to the Golden State Warriors.
This past off-season, after a second-round loss to the eventual-champion Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets underwent a significant front-office overhaul. They replaced head coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey, the lead architects behind every roster and on-court iteration of the Rockets that tried to best-suit Harden’s needs.
But the roster changes themselves were limited until Harden’s co-star, Russell Westbrook, was sent to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall. The early results were mixed, with Houston opening the season 4-6.
“As much as I love the city of Houston — loved being there — I think at this point in my career it’s not about money, it’s not about anything else but having a chance to reach that ultimate goal. It’s winning at the highest level,” Harden said. “It didn’t go as smooth as I would have loved it to go but I think both sides are happy.”
Since his displeasure with the Rockets was first reported, Harden has been at the centre of multiple non-basketball related incidents.
Prior to the season starting, Harden’s arrival to training camp was delayed when he decided to breach COVID-19 protocols by attending rapper Lil Baby’s birthday party in Atlanta. Neither Harden nor Lil Baby were wearing masks in the photo Harden shared on his personal Instagram.
Then, ahead of Houston’s season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, an investigation was launched by the NBA into a viral video that showed a mask-less Harden attending an event at a club — violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Harden was fined $50,000 for the violation.
On the court, Harden’s final days as a member of the Rockets saw him held out practice after he publicly commented that he did not think his issues with the team could be fixed.
“I regret [the way things ended in Houston],” Harden said. “I don’t need the attention, especially the negative energy, the negative attention. I’ve never been that guy. There were some things that I felt like were out of my character. But the ultimate goal was to get somewhere where I can compete and here I am in Brooklyn.”
The Nets acquired Harden from the Rockets on Thursday in a blockbuster deal that will reunite him with Kevin Durant, his teammate in Oklahoma City. Harden could play as early as Saturday if all the players in the deal pass their physicals in time.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
