What happened to Russell Westbrook and James Harden?
When Russell Westbrook teamed up with James Harden in Houston, it was supposed to be a strong pairing. The two grew up in Los Angeles and played together in Oklahoma City. Instead, the duo only lasted one season together and now neither player is with the Rockets anymore.
How does Russell Westbrook’s leadership style affect the Thunder?
As MacMahon describes it, the Thunder “operated with the discipline of a military unit” when Westbrook was their leader. Things are much different in Houston, where Harden frequently charters private jets to party in other cities when the Rockets have a few days off between games.
Why was Russell Westbrook traded from the Rockets?
D’Antoni told Westbrook that would just make it so the team had to start over when Harden arrived, which didn’t sit well with Westbrook. Westbrook and Harden eventually decided they no longer wanted to play together, which is why Russ was traded.
Why was James Harden late for a film session?
In one particular instance in the Orlando bubble, Harden was late to a film session because he waited until the last second to get his mandatory COVID-19 test. Westbrook reportedly became irate and shouted at then-head coach Mike D’Antoni to “start without him!”
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Did Russell Westbrook play with James Harden?
Beyond adding another bonafide star, Westbrook holds a long friendship with James Harden that dates back to their childhood. The two both played for the same Challengers Boys & Girls Club in South Central LA. Despite the deep-rooted connection between the two star point guards, things quickly unfolded in Houston.
What happened between Westbrook and Harden?
Sources told MacMahon that Harden could “call the shots” on personnel moves for the team and coaching staff, and would threaten to demand a trade if the team wouldn't upgrade the roster. That's how Westbrook ended up in Houston. Harden reportedly threatened to demand a trade if the Rockets didn't trade for Westbrook.
How many years did Harden Durant and Westbrook play together?
three yearsAs teammates, the trio was together for three years in OKC, reaching the Finals against Miami in 2012. Then Harden was off to Houston, when the Thunder flinched on the prospect of paying three maximum-salary contracts. That left Durant and Westbrook to twice get the Thunder to the West finals over the next four years.
When did Russell Westbrook meet James Harden?
The two schools never met during the three years Westbrook and Harden overlapped in high school. Still, Westbrook and Harden kept in touch, texting and catching up as they climbed the ranks of the L.A. hoops circuit. Westbrook was coming on strong as his senior year at Leuzinger approached.
Are Durant and Westbrook still friends?
Moreover, Westbrook and KD had a chat after the game between the Nets and Washington. To sum it up, it is safe to say that these two stars have squashed their beef now. They have had a wild journey together, going from teammates to rivals and now back to being friends.
Why did Harden ask for a trade?
He showed up to training camp late and appeared visibly out of shape. He believed he could force a trade if he could anger team governor Tilman Fertitta enough, according to sources close to Harden. "He would have to outdo what Jimmy Butler did in Minnesota," a rival Eastern Conference executive said.
Are James Harden and Kevin Durant still friends?
Even after their ugly divorce on the basketball court, there are no hard feelings between Kevin Durant and James Harden. In fact, according to recent video evidence, the two might still even be friends.
What if Kevin Durant never left OKC?
If Durant had stayed with OKC, it's safe to say the top of the league would have been more competitive. We could have seen better NBA Finals match-ups without pretending to be surprised or excited when the Warriors won.
Did Harden play with Durant Oklahoma?
To start things out, Durant and James Harden traveled to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder for the first time together since they left the franchise that drafted them. The two played side by side in OKC from 2009-2012 before Harden was traded to Houston prior to the start of the 2012-13 season.
Are KD and Russell friends?
While they may not be the best of friends today, former OKC Thunder teammates Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were an iconic duo. The two superstars played the first 8-seasons of their NBA career together in Oklahoma, learning the ropes.
Did James Harden live in Compton?
Harden was born on Aug. 26, 1989, in Los Angeles. The five-time NBA All-Star and his two siblings were raised by their mother, Monja Willis, in Compton, which had a reputation for gang violence and drive-by shootings in the 1990s.
What part of LA is Russell Westbrook from?
Long Beach, CaliforniaWestbrook was born in Long Beach, California, to Russell Westbrook Jr. and Shannon Horton. He has a younger brother named Raynard. Growing up in Hawthorne, Westbrook and his best friend Khelcey Barrs III had hopes of going to UCLA and playing together.
Who drove away Russell Westbrook?
The team’s culture, engineered by Harden, may have played a part in driving away Russell Westbrook, who the Rockets recently traded to the Washington Wizards. James Harden has been calling the shots on the Rockets, and the team's culture may have played a role in ending Russell Westbrook's time in Houston. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Does Harden call the shots?
Harden’s power within the Rockets organization goes beyond the team’s travel schedule. Sources told MacMahon that Harden could “call the shots” on personnel moves for the team and coaching staff, and would threaten to demand a trade if the team wouldn’t upgrade the roster.
Did Westbrook and Harden mesh?
While there were on-court issues around playing style and the fit between Westbrook and Harden, there were reportedly other issues as well: Westbrook just didn’t mesh with the team’s culture.
When will Russell Westbrook and James Harden be reunited?
December 16, 2020. by Steve DelVecchio. Russell Westbrook and James Harden were optimistic about their reunion when the Houston Rockets acquired the former in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the two superstars’ second stint as teammates did not exactly go as planned.
Who was the coach that Westbrook yelled at?
Westbrook reportedly became irate and shouted at then-head coach Mike D’Antoni to “start without him!”. D’Antoni told Westbrook that would just make it so the team had to start over when Harden arrived, which didn’t sit well with Westbrook.
Do privileged people have the right to contend for a championship?
Privileged people. No one has the right to contend for a championship. Some things still have to be earned.
Did Westbrook and Harden play together?
The unusual thing is that Westbrook and Harden played together in Oklahoma City, so you would think they knew what they were getting themselves into. That said, Harden was the Sixth Man of the Year in OKC. He became a full-blown superstar and celebrity in Houston. It seems like that was the main issue for Westbrook.
Is James Harden going to be traded to the Rockets?
The NBA season will begin very soon, but still there is no certainty of the future of James Harden with the Houston Rockets. The Beard has already requested a trade, but nothing has been finalized till now.
Is Harden the source of all problems for the Rockets?
GUANGZHOU, CHINA – AUGUST 12: The NBA player James Harden of the Houston Rockets attends a commercial event at Haixinsha Asian Games Theme Park on August 12, 2017 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
