The James Harden drama in Houston has taken a wild turn with the NBA fining him $50,000 for violating the league’s health and safety protocols, which came shortly after the Rockets’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed due to multiple Houston players either providing inconclusive COVID-19 tests or testing positive. It’s is a different level of drama than the Rockets had been dealing with up to this point, but it all stems from Harden’s behavior as he heavily pursues a trade.
Harden may put up the numbers, but it sure seems like some of his intangibles could cause problems for the next team he plays for — especially if he moved to somewhere like Brooklyn.
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith does not care about that, though. Because when his First Take co-host Max Kellerman tried to argue Harden would make the Nets worse, Smith focused on the stats.
“I understand the notion: OK, look at this team, look at the depth that they have, let’s see how it works out, don’t touch it. I understand that thinking,” Smith said. “Spencer Dinwiddie is no scrub cares, Caris LeVert ain’t no scrub — those brothers can ball, I got mad respect for them. I’m really high DeAndre Jordan despite the fact that he’s older right now. Joe Harris I’m very, very fond of. I can’t say enough about Sean Marks and the job that he has done with this franchise — especially, I love the fact that he picked up Jeff Green. I love Jeff Green on this squad because he’s not just a good player, he’s also a character guy. One of the best people in the world that you could possibly meet I love Jeff Green.
“But let me tell you something right now Max: to sit up there and say that a guy that just finished averaging over 30 (points per game) the last three years, that has been in the compensation is one of the most prolific offensive weapons the game of basketball in its history has ever seen, would make a championship contender worse — I don’t understand that kind of thinking, that’s blaspheme as far as I’m concerned.”
I'm calling for the basketball authorities to arrest @MaxKellerman IMMEDIATELY! pic.twitter.com/ZaYlVyHE2w
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 23, 2020
The Nets are back at it on Friday for a Christmas Day game against the Boston Celtics.
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