Thunder vs Rockets: Not just another game
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Nov 2012
CHICAGO -- There are 11 games on tap in the NBA in this cold, wintry Wednesday night. Just another busy day in the tedious regular season calendar.
But out there in Oklahoma City, tonight's game isn't just another 48-minute smackdown. It's the return of James Harden, the former Thunder who was traded to the Houston Rockets late last October when contract negotiations fell through.
Upon his arrival in Houston, Harden immediately inked a five-year extension worth $80 million. It's a little more money than Oklahoma could afford because the Thunder are already flirting with the salary cap limit. Just this season alone, the Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook collect a combined $30.3 million in salaries. And next season, the annual installment of Serge Ibaka's four-year $50 million contract extension also kicks in.
If he had taken a pay cut, like Durant and Westebrook did before signing their long-term deals with Loud City, this Thunder wouldn't have been stolen by Houston.
Why didn't the Bearded Wonder stay?
Did the NBA's reigning Sixth Man depart OKC for more money?
Or did Harden land in Houston to be the Main Man instead of being only the third option behind Durant and Westbrook?
Well, only Harden knows. Unfortunately, he's not sharing. Very tight-lipped.
What's talking, though, and very loudly so, is Harden's game.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Harden jumpstarted his Rockets career by scoring 82 points in his first two outings. He has since cooled off but his 25.1 points a game average is fourth best in the league. The 23-year old Arizona State University alum also whips 4.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists per in 14 games.
Although the Rockets are a disappointing 7-7 in the standings, Harden seems happy and content beneath his new jersey. He is playing with the same fire, passion and unbridled joy that have come to define his budding three-year NBA career.
It's easy to assume that the wonderful, basketball-loving folks out there in Oklahoma are happy for Harden and his filthy rich contract. But, believe me, there is no such thing as a happy divorce.
When Harden performs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena tonight, the once friendly den turns into an enemy lair.
So, will the Thunder fans give Harden a polite cheer, or a bitter, angry jeer?
I don't know. What I do know is that there will be a lot of good basketball to be played.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
By Eric Armit, Wed, 17 Sep 2025TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 16 Sep 2025SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Smarts over power
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Sep 2025HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
Tue, 16 Sep 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 15 Sep 2025