Nets star James Harden sat down with Malika Andrews to reflect back on last season. The 32-year-old admitted that it was a bit different for him with the COVID restrictions and just him getting closer to his new teammates. After putting in some offseason work, he is confident that this season will be special:
“I feel like last year was a lot going on, it was kind of like throwing us in the fire. Because of COVID restrictions, not really able to hang out and be around teammates. If you build that relationship off the court, it’s going to make it a lot easier on the court — Just trying to get my mind and my body right. That’s all I was focused on this summer and come back even better, bigger and stronger. And quicker. I feel better than I have ever felt before. Just more confident knowing that we have a legit chance to be the last team standing. You have to have that confidence.”
The Beard touched on the potential contract extension he may be signing with Brooklyn as well. Leaving Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is something that has not crossed his mind and he believes that everything will work itself out:
“Throughout the course of my career, I’ve never been a free agent before. I’ve always been loyal and just signing contract extensions and just being there being there being there. I just want to take my time with it. It’s going to be very very difficult to leave here or to leave Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. But, I think this season I just want to focus on winning a championship and everything else will work itself out.”
The phenomenon of Scary Hours, the name Harden gave for the carnage the Nets will be imposing on other teams, are finally back. This time out, there will be new acquisitions such as Paul Millsap and Patty Mills who will be a part of it. With the Nets set to follow a normal NBA schedule, Harden said that now we are all getting a full year to witness it: “It’s the same mindset, you just get a whole year of it.”
James Harden, in part, on his contract extension: “I'm just taking my time with it. You know, I think over the course of my career I've never been a free agent before… I think this season I just want to focus on winning the championship.”
Full @SportsCenter conversation: pic.twitter.com/8lQQTYoyyE
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 29, 2021
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