Kim Klement/Related Press
The Houston Rockets are planning to retire James Harden‘s No. 13 jersey when he calls time on his NBA profession.
“James Harden will always be a Rocket,” crew governor Tilman Fertitta acknowledged, per the Houston Legend‘s Jonathan Feigen. “Indubitably, we can retire his jersey. He made my first three years of owning this franchise unforgettable. The success he brought this franchise over eight years and the recollections he created for our fanbase/community (are) genuinely excellent.”
The Rockets and Harden had a bitter divorce, which is form of always the case after a vital title participant requests a trade. The nine-time All-Star appeared checked out, and the problem turned unsalvageable when he publicly lamented in January how he belief the crew used to be a misplaced design off at some stage within the context of being a title contender.
That does no longer trade the truth Harden is one amongst primarily the most attention-grabbing gamers in franchise history and perhaps 2d easiest within the befriend of Hakeem Olajuwon. He trails easiest Olajuwon in facets (18,365) and prefer shares (115.2) and is the crew’s all-time leader in assists (4,796), per Basketball Reference.
Houston made a moderately huge bet on Harden on the time, hoping he may perhaps well also high-tail from a colossal sixth man on the Oklahoma Metropolis Affirm to the No. 1 massive title on his delight in crew. The resolution paid off in spades because the Rockets reached the Western Convention Finals in 2015 and 2018.
Harden used to be unable to get Houston over the hasten to prefer its third championship, however that’s largely the total manner down to unhealthy perfect fortune and even worse timing since the Rockets’ handiest years overlapped with those of the Golden Voice Warriors’ dynasty.
Placing his jersey within the rafters may perhaps well be an honor befitting his contributions. If it were to happen, he’d be the seventh Rockets participant to thrill in his number retired.
